India seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar is back in the Indian cricket team for the T20I series against New Zealand, starting October 22. Several reports have suggested that Bhuvneshwar’s selection is because the BCCI selectors are not confident about the current bowling line-up leading up to the ODI World Cup 2027 in Africa. If Bhuvneshwar Kumar proves his fitness, he could very well form a partnership with Jasprit Bumrah for the marquee event. Former India star Wasim Jaffer appreciated the decision to pick Bhuvneshwar.
“Better late than never. He deserves this. Unko select karke koi meherbani nahi ki hai kisi ne (nobody has done a favour by selecting him). His performances have been there, and his fitness has been good. I am clueless as to why he was dropped earlier,” Wasim Jaffer said on his YouTube channel.
“He has always done well in the IPL and for Uttar Pradesh. So, what was the reason he was not getting picked? We should keep age aside. We have young players, but we should not neglect those who are doing well because you ultimately need experience when there is pressure. You cannot play with an entirely young team. You need to have that mixture of experience and youth.”
Jaffer also wondered why Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj are not getting game time.
“Shami should be picked, especially in the Test team. I don’t know about the ODI team because we have tried many players like Gurnoor Brar, Prasidh Krishna, and Nitish Reddy there, but I don’t think the management still has that confidence. You are not giving Siraj game time consistently. I don’t understand who your second and third seamers are. According to me, Shami should be in the ODI team, given that the World Cup is also very near. When you have that quality, you should play him. My first choice would be Bumrah, Shami, and Siraj, and I will think about rebuilding after the World Cup,” he said.
“I would like to see Shami make a comeback in Tests. I have been looking forward to it for a long time. My focus will be on Shami and Auqib Nabi whenever the team is announced. If Shami is neglected here, I feel the door will be closed on him.”
