Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, a member of the 2011 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup-winning team, wants Bhuvneshwar Kumar to be included in India’s squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Ashwin, who has taken up the role of a cricket expert following his retirement from international cricket in December 2024, believes India will need Bhuvneshwar’s experience in the 50-over showpiece next year.
He even said he would personally urge the out-of-favour pacer to play every available tournament to prepare for the marquee event.
Speaking in a video shared by Cricinfo on Thursday, Ashwin said, “Bhuvneshwar Kumar is a yes. I would communicate to him, get him to play all the tournaments – first-class cricket, the Vijay Hazare Trophy, everything. And get him primed
going to South Africa. I think we would need him there.”
Wait till the end for an interesting suggestion by R Ashwin 👀 pic.twitter.com/zd8z2ePGYe
— Cricinfo (@cricinfo) July 30, 2026
Bhuvneshwar, who made his ODI debut against Pakistan in January 2013, has played 121 ODIs for India and taken 141 wickets. However, he has not represented India in the 50-over format since January 21, 2022.
He was part of India’s squads for the 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cups but has managed only two wickets in eight ODIs played in South Africa.
The 36-year-old right-arm pacer has been away from international cricket but remains a regular in the Indian Premier League. He represented Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2026, where he picked up 28 wickets in 16 matches.
Bhuvneshwar finished as the tournament’s second-highest wicket-taker and played a key role in helping RCB successfully defend their IPL title.
After Bhuvneshwar finished as Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s leading wicket-taker in IPL 2026, several former cricketers and experts backed his return to the Indian team. However, the selectors overlooked him for India’s white-ball squads for the series against Afghanistan, Ireland, England and Zimbabwe.
