Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter Subramaniam Badrinath has reckoned that the veteran Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar could make it to the ICC ODI World Cup 2027 squad in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Notably, Bhuvneshwar Kumar last played for India in a T20I in November 2022. However, his IPL performances in the previous two seasons helped him to bag a spot in the T20I squad for the New Zealand tour.
“The New Zealand conditions will be ideal for his comeback. He troubled batters in India itself, so he should exploit these conditions very well. And if he delivers and proves his fitness, he can be considered for the 2027 ODI World Cup. He should also be willing, though, so the team management should have a conversation with him. They should confirm with him whether he can bowl 10 overs and express their desire to have him for the World Cup in South Africa,” Badrinath said on his YouTube channel.
Further, Badrinath asserted that the Indian team management should open with Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma in the five-match T20I series in New Zealand. Interestingly, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi wasn’t included in the XI in all five games of the just-concluded five-match T20I series against the West Indies at home.
“Sanju Samson scored in two of the five matches against the West Indies. He should open with Abhishek Sharma in all five T20Is in New Zealand,” said Badrinath.
India T20I Squad vs NZ: Shreyas Iyer [C], Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson [WK], Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan [WK], Tilak Varma [VC], Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav
New Zealand vs India T20I series fixtures
Thursday, October 22 – First T20I, Christchurch
Saturday, October 24 – Second T20I, Christchurch
Tuesday, October 27 – Third T20I, Wellington
Friday, October 30 – Fourth T20I, Auckland
Sunday, November 1 – Fifth T20I, Hamilton
