Ravichandran Ashwin Backs Bhuvneshwar Kumar After Four-Year T20 Recall

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is back in India's T20I squad for the upcoming five-match series against New Zealand, marking his return to the national team after a four-year gap.

Ashwin's Take

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said that Bhuvneshwar was simply focused on his bowling for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL rather than worrying about a national recall. Ashwin noted that the 36-year-old pacer focused on doing his job with the new ball and earned success as a result. Meanwhile, Ashwin also discussed Mohammed Shami's potential return, stating that a comeback depends entirely on the player's belief and hard work. Speaking about his teammates, Ashwin revealed that he shares a lighthearted, banter-filled relationship with Jasprit Bumrah. He also shared that his bond with Virat Kohli improved after Kohli stepped down as captain to play solely as a batsman.

World Cup Outlook

Looking ahead, Ashwin named India as strong contenders for the 2027 ODI World Cup due to a strong fast-bowling setup led by Jasprit Bumrah, good spin options, and experienced batsmen. However, he also picked co-host South Africa as a top favorite, citing their home conditions, strong skills, and the positive impact of the SA20 league.

Context

Returning to the national squad after a multi-year absence requires consistent domestic or league performance to catch selectors' attention. Major international tournaments like the ODI World Cup routinely spark early evaluations of team depth and conditions in host nations long before the event begins.