
Aakash Chopra has warned that selecting Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the 2027 ODI World Cup based solely on his IPL form would be a mistake. The former India cricketer pointed out that the…
Aakash Chopra has warned that selecting Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the 2027 ODI World Cup based solely on his IPL form would be a mistake. The former India cricketer pointed out that the 36-year-old pacer has not played first-class cricket for two years and is only active in T20s. Chopra said Kumar's low workload makes it difficult to bowl ten overs and field for 50 in ODIs. Kumar, who last played for India in November 2022, took 28 wickets in IPL 2026 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Chopra argued the selectors must give Kumar at least one year of ODI cricket to prepare if they want him in the squad for the tournament in Africa.

The clamour to bring Bhuvneshwar Kumar back for the ODI World Cup is built entirely on IPL T20 success. Chopra is right: bowling four overs on flat decks is not the same as bowling ten in a 50-over game. India's fast-bowling cupboard looks thin, but selecting a 36-year-old who has not played any ODI cricket since 2022 would be a desperate gamble. The real test is whether selectors give him runs against West Indies later this month, or wait for one more IPL season and call it preparation.
Sources (2): timesnownews.com, sports.ndtv.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.