The Bhuvneshwar Kumar India comeback has received support from former chief selector MSK Prasad, who believes the experienced pacer deserves another opportunity in T20 internationals. Prasad has also urged selectors to consider Mohammed Shami for upcoming Test and ODI assignments as India prepares for its New Zealand tour.
Bhuvneshwar’s recall for India’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand was announced on October 6, shortly before Ajit Agarkar’s tenure as chairman of the selection committee ended.
Speaking about the selection, Prasad said Bhuvneshwar’s recent performances in the Indian Premier League justified his return to the national squad.
Bhuvneshwar’s IPL Performance Strengthens His Case
The 36-year-old fast bowler took 17 wickets for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2025 and followed it with 28 wickets in the 2026 season, giving him 45 wickets across the two campaigns.
His performances contributed to RCB’s reported back-to-back IPL title wins. Bhuvneshwar last represented India in November 2022, during a T20I against New Zealand.
Prasad expressed confidence in the bowler’s ability to continue performing at the highest level in T20 cricket, although he was less certain about his prospects in the ODI format.
The upcoming series offers Bhuvneshwar an opportunity to demonstrate that his experience and skills remain valuable to India’s T20I plans.
MSK Prasad Makes a Case for Mohammed Shami
Prasad also wants selectors to consider Mohammed Shami for India’s upcoming international assignments, including the 2027 ODI World Cup preparations.
The Bengal fast bowler began the new Ranji Trophy season with four wickets against Delhi, delivering 17.3 overs in a reminder of his red-ball capabilities.
Shami’s international future has remained uncertain amid questions about his fitness and workload. However, Prasad believes his performances in the 2015, 2019 and 2023 ODI World Cups, along with his continued domestic cricket contributions, justify another opportunity.
Prasad said he would like to see Shami return for the New Zealand series and potentially feature against Australia as well.
New Zealand Tour Could Offer Shami an Opportunity
India’s all-format tour of New Zealand provides the immediate context for the selection debate. While the T20I squad has been announced, the ODI and Test squads are yet to be named, according to the supplied report.
A recall could give Shami an opportunity to re-establish himself before India’s home Test series against Australia in early 2027.
Prasad argued that selectors should begin assessing experienced players well ahead of major tournaments rather than waiting until an important series approaches.
For now, Shami’s performances in the Ranji Trophy will remain an important part of the discussion. Whether they lead to an international recall will depend on the selectors’ decisions and their assessment of his readiness.
Conversation
Be kind and stay on topic. Comments are moderated; abuse, spam and personal attacks are removed. Report a problem