Hanuma Vihari calls for Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami in India squad

Bowling concerns

Indian cricketer Hanuma Vihari says the national team must bring back seasoned fast bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami to fix bowling weaknesses. His comments follow India failing to defend 351 runs in the third ODI against West Indies in New Chandigarh, and conceding over 400 runs in the second ODI at Guwahati.

Vihari on backups

Vihari stated that the team cannot depend entirely on Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya due to their injury records, noting that backup players with experience are necessary for stability and crucial breakthroughs. He warned that West Indies exposed the Indian bowling attack even though they are not part of the World Cup, raising concerns about how the team would fare against top sides like Australia, South Africa, and England, and calling the recent losses a big blow and a wake-up call.

Bhuvneshwar's response

Responding to his potential return, Bhuvneshwar Kumar stated on the Jatin Sapru channel that he is not playing to prove anything right now but would gladly accept a call to play for India. He also added that he has moved past the phase of anxiety and no longer spends time waiting and wondering about team selections for specific series.

Context

Experienced fast bowlers often provide stability and control during high-scoring limited-overs matches when younger bowling attacks struggle under pressure. National team selections regularly balance grooming young talent with relying on seasoned veterans during periods where bowling lineups face high scores or injury setbacks.