# Ghavri urges India recall for Shami and Bhuvneshwar as Bumrah misses Test series

2026-08-06T11:05:44+00:00 | Sports | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 3 independent outlets

Former India pacer Karsan Ghavri said Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar should return to India's set-up, citing their consistent Indian Premier League form without major injuries, NDTV Sports reported. Jasprit Bumrah, rested for the third ODI against England last month, will miss the upcoming two-match Test series with an unrecovered impact injury. Ghavri, who played for India at two World Cups, said Bumrah should take a break of five to six months or even a year to reach full fitness, and urged selectors not to pick him while only half fit. He suggested rotating Mohammed Siraj and Shami in Tests and using Bhuvneshwar in Twenty20 internationals to ease Bumrah's workload. Separately, Republic World reported that Bhuvneshwar, IPL 2026's second highest wicket taker with 28 wickets in 16 innings for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, told an RCB podcast, "I've already played for India. That's not something I have to achieve now." Jammu and Kashmir's uncapped Auqib Nabi has been named as Bumrah's replacement for the Sri Lanka Test series.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

Ghavri's comments are one former player's opinion rather than a selection decision, and Bhuvneshwar's own remarks suggest he is not pushing for a recall himself, which complicates the case Ghavri makes for him. Bumrah's recurring fitness issues, and Ghavri's suggestion that he sit out for months, point to a genuine workload problem for India's bowling attack rather than a settled plan. Rotating Siraj and Shami in Tests while resting Bumrah remains Ghavri's proposal, not a decision by selectors. Republic World reported that Nabi is expected to make his debut under Shubman Gill in the Sri Lanka Test series, which will be the first sign of how India covers for Bumrah.

## Coverage

- timesofindia.indiatimes.com <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/when-you-dont-play-ranji-ex-india-cricketer-explains-why-bhuvneshwar-kumar-and-mohammed-shamis-comeback-is-difficult/articleshow/132994990.cms>
- republicworld.com (neutral report) <https://www.republicworld.com/cricket/i-ve-already-been-there-bhuvneshwar-kumar-downplays-india-comeback-talks-despite-successful-ipl-stint-2026-08-03-133907>
- sports.ndtv.com (neutral report) <https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/jasprit-bumrah-told-to-take-a-year-off-as-ex-india-star-calls-for-mohammed-shami-bhuvneshwar-kumar-return-11869839#publisher=newsstand>

Tags: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Karsan Ghavri, Mohammed Shami
Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/ghavri-urges-india-recall-for-shami-and-bhuvneshwar-as-bumrah-misses-test-series/
License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources.
Cite: https://indianopinion.org/ghavri-urges-india-recall-for-shami-and-bhuvneshwar-as-bumrah-misses-test-series/#story-in-brief