Aakash Chopra has detailed the hurdles that Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami face as they seek a return to India’s ODI squad ahead of the 2027 World Cup. Both fast bowlers remain outside the current squad, and their return is contingent on continued domestic and international cricket in the coming months. Chopra’s appraisal emphasises the workload and preparation timeframe required for either player to be considered for the tournaments in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
The former India opener highlighted that no bowler can afford to rely simply on restricted domestic cricket or IPL results to gain a World Cup spot. To improve match fitness and consistency across multiple formats, it’s important to follow a structured approach that starts months before the tournament. One factor works against Bhuvi.
I adore him and want him to play for India again, but when you don’t play Ranji, your workload is severely reduced. The Vijay Hazare Trophy features only a few matches. In ODI cricket, you are required to bowl 10 overs and field 50 overs per match. It’s a lot of work,” Chopra remarked in a video posted on his YouTube account.
What are the workload issues that Bhuvneshwar Kumar faces?
Aakash Chopra underlined that any bowler training for the World Cup must continue to play ODI cricket. To prepare for a 50-over tournament, players should be introduced into the squad ahead of time, rather than being chosen only on recent T20 results.
It’s not simple in a tournament like the World Cup, where you have to keep playing. You will be required to attend every ODI game from the previous year, in addition to the World Cup. Aakash Chopra remarked, “You will have to start playing him from now on.”
Why is it risky to select without adequate preparation time?
Aakash Chopra emphasised that picking any bowler without enough preparation time would be a strategic mistake. To prepare for a 50-over World Cup, players should be included to the ODI team ahead of time, rather than being selected only on brief appearances in T20 events.
He is not a bad choice, but it would be a mistake unless we gave him at least a year to prepare. Aakash Chopra stated that selecting someone for the 50-over World Cup based on four overs bowled in two months of the IPL and one month of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy would be incorrect.
Which bowler has the strongest domestic credentials?
Mohammed Shami has a stronger domestic case than Bhuvneshwar Kumar because to his recent Ranji Trophy performances and upcoming tournament involvement. Aakash Chopra believes the selectors are unlikely to choose both bowlers for the World Cup.The same is true for Shami, despite having played in the Ranji Trophy and taken 37 wickets. He will now play the Duleep Trophy as well.
According to Aakash Chopra, Bhuvneshwar Kumar outperforms Shami in terms of man-to-man marking during the IPL.
My impression is that the selectors, captain, and coach will not accept both of them. Only one of them can come, and we’ll find out who it is in the next four to six months. By New Zealand, we’ll know which of them is coming or if no one is coming, because if neither of them is carried to New Zealand, that’s it,” Aakash Chopra explained.
