The pacer for the Delhi and Kolkata Knight Riders, Navdeep Saini, has stated that he thinks Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami should be considered for the Indian national team. Selectors have not yet made it clear if they will be considered for future selection, hence both players are now not part of the national setup. Saini’s support coincides with the Indian management’s ongoing preference for younger bowlers, who have had difficulty making an impression in recent matches against England and Ireland.
As a member of India’s historic Border-Gavaskar Trophy victory in 2020–21, Saini demonstrated the abilities of pacers in both franchise and domestic cricket. He acknowledged the challenge of maintaining form while staying out of the national team picture in competitive domestic competitions and the IPL.
Shami’s domestic form and Bhuvneshwar’s IPL performance
For Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s 2026 IPL campaign produced noteworthy results. The 36-year-old finished second on the list of players who took the most wickets during the competition, behind Kagiso Rabada of the Gujarat Titans, with 28 wickets. Despite missing out on international play, his performance at the top of the bowling attack showed consistent efficacy in franchise cricket.
Indian selectors are expected to provide clarification on the selection process.
Shami, on the other hand, keeps playing in competitive formats of domestic cricket, such as the Ranji Trophy. Shami’s non-selection for the national squad was partly due to chief selector Ajit Agarkar’s constant worries about his fitness. The 35-year-old hasn’t played for India since the Champions Trophy in 2025, when he took nine wickets in five games.
The Indian selectors have not yet stated if Shami and Bhuvneshwar will be given another chance to play for their country. Saini’s public support highlights the continuous discussion in Indian cricket circles on how to strike a balance between supporting seasoned players with established franchise and domestic records and the management’s desire to nurture younger bowling potential in advance of the 2027 World Cup.
