India's former spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has endorsed Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the experienced fast bowler, for India's 2027 ODI World Cup team.
In recent years, the 33-year-old has been sporadic, but Ashwin believes the shot-maker still has a role to play.
Since retiring from India international cricket in December 2024, Ashwin has been offering his expert opinions on cricket. In a video shared by Cricinfo, the former off-spinner said that Bhuvneshwar should play as much domestic cricket as he could to be ready for the World Cup.
Speaking in a video shared by Cricinfo on Thursday, Ashwin said:
"Bhuvneshwar Kumar is a yes. I would tell him to do all the tournaments - first class, the Vijay Hazare - everything. And get him ready for South Africa. I think we would require him there."
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Ashwin's remarks come at a time when India is preparing their squad to compete at the 2027 ODI World Cup, where both veterans and new kids on the block are in the running for a place.
Bhuvneshwar Still Waiting for India Comeback
Bhuvneshwar Kumar made his debut for India in the One-Day International match against Pakistan in January 2013. He has appeared 121 times for India in One-Day Internationals and taken 141 wickets while playing the matches. He was a part of the Indian team in the 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cups. He was seen as one of the best new-ball bowlers of India.
Next, the 36-year-old hasn't played an ODI for India since the 21st of January 2022. Despite participating in past World Cups, his tenure in South Africa has seen a mediocre return of 2 wickets in 8 ODIs.
Having been released from the India team, Bhuvneshwar has continued to feature in domestic tournaments and the IPL. For the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Bhuvneshwar had a phenomenal season in 2026, finishing with 28 wickets from 16 matches.
The experienced bowler was the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament. With his expertise, he helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru defend their IPL title successfully. Several ex-cricketers and cricket experts lauded his efforts with the ball, and many even clamoured for his inclusion back in the Indian team.
Despite these performances, the selectors didn't include Bhuvneshwar in India's white-ball teams for the series against Afghanistan, Ireland, England and Zimbabwe.
However, Ashwin feels the seasoned attacker does have a part to play. This isn't just about bringing Bhuvneshwar back into the reckoning but also making sure he is match-ready by playing a lot of first-class cricket and the Vijay Hazare Trophy ahead of the World Cup.
Today, there is not a year to go until the 2027 ODI World Cup, and debates about India's squad are already beginning to take pace. Time will tell if the selectors share Ashwin's opinion, but the ex-spinner has clearly stated that he believes Bhuvneshwar Kumar to be a valuable asset for India's 2027 campaign.