A sensational 28-wicket campaign for eventual champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2026, 36-year-old Bhuvneshwar Kumar finds himself back in the national discourse. Bhuvneshwar Kumar hasn’t played an ODI for India since January 2022—coincidentally, against South Africa. Yet, as the countdown to the 2027 ODI World Cup across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia accelerates, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes the door shouldn’t remain permanently shut.
During a recent discussion, Ashwin made a compelling case for why chief selector Ajit Agarkar needs to pick up the phone.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s Case for Bhuvenshwar Kumar
When building an ideal World Cup squad on paper, selectors routinely lean toward raw pace and steep bounce. But subcontinental overhead conditions and early morning seam at grounds like Newlands or St George’s Park demand a completely different operational tool: controlled, high-volume lateral movement.
While going through a selection draft game on Cricinfo, Ashwin categorized core names like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Kuldeep Yadav as definite picks, while placing others in the “maybe” or “no” buckets. But before wrapping up the discussion, he specifically halted the segment to advocate for Bhuvneshwar.
Ashwin said on Cricinfo:
“But where is Bhuvneshwar Kumar? He is a yes; I would communicate with him and get him to play all first-class tournaments, the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and everything. And get him prime going to South Africa, I think we’ll need him,”
Why Ajit Agarkar Urged to Communicate With Bhuvneshwar Kumar Makes Tactical Sense
The logic behind Ashwin’s push goes beyond pure nostalgia. India’s recent ODI selection policy under Ajit Agarkar has actively prioritized high-release, hit-the-deck pacers like Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar to partner Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. While hitting dynamic back-of-a-length zones works on flat decks, South African tracks during an October-November window often present early morning moisture where traditional swing bowlers thrive.
| Statistical Metric | Career Returns (ODIs) | Tactical Significance |
| Matches / Wickets | 121 Matches / 141 Wickets | Proven international track record across multi-nation events. |
| Best Bowling Figures | 5/42 vs Sri Lanka | Ability to run through middle orders when conditions assist movement. |
| IPL 2026 Output | 28 Wickets for RCB | Finished as leading wicket-taker for the title-winning franchise. |
| Economy Control | Under 5.10 in Powerplays | Shields the bowling unit from early boundary leakage in fielding restrictions. |
With 121 ODIs under his belt, Bhuvneshwar Kumar understands the mechanics of white-ball pacing better than most active domestic pacers. If Ajit Agarkar’s committee asks him to complete a dedicated domestic red-and-white ball workload—stretching across the Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy—India could enter the tournament with the most complete new-ball attack in the world.
A Necessary Dialogue Before 2027
Whether the selection committee under Agarkar actually re-opens a dialogue with Bhuvneshwar Kumar remains an open question. Modern selection panels rarely look backward once a generational shift has been initiated.
However, dismissing a bowler who just dominated a 14-match IPL season simply because of his age or time away from the national team feels counterproductive. Having Ajit Agarkar urged to communicate with Bhuvneshwar Kumar for ODI World Cup considerations isn’t about guaranteeing him a spot in the XI today; it’s about establishing clear communication, setting concrete domestic milestones, and ensuring India leaves no stone unturned before taking on the world in South Africa.
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