Will Bhuvneshwar Kumar be picked for Cricket World Cup 2027? Exploring the possibilities

Bhuvneshwar Kumar last played an ODI for India in January 2022.

The Indian Cricket Team is gearing up for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 which is set to be played in October-November 2027. South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will be hosting the big tournament.

The Men in Blue have started their preparations for the same. They have introduced newer players in the ODI setup, especially in the bowling department. Gurnoor Brar, Prince Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, and Arshdeep Singh, who were not a part of the World Cup 2023 are in plans for the upcoming one.

However, so far, the young brigade has failed to impress the management. There are some raw attributes in each of them, but the consistency is where they are lacking currently. Amidst this experimentation, Shubman Gill-led India have played five ODI series, since 2025.

Among those five, they have managed to win only two, against Afghanistan and South Africa. Due to the persistent losses, and the need for constant experimentation, many cricket pundits have been suggesting the re-introduction of Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the ODI setup.

Should India recall Bhuvneshwar Kumar for Cricket World Cup 2027?

Bhuvneshwar Kumar last played the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 Final with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). RCB have been victorious in the last two IPL seasons, winning consecutive trophies in 2025 and 2026.

The right-arm speedster has been instrumental in both these campaigns. He claimed 17 wickets in 2025 with an economy of 9, including two crucial wickets in the IPL 2025 Final.

In 2026, he was even better, with 28 wickets in 16 matches. His strike rate was 13, and economy 8. He contributed with two wickets in the IPL 2026 Final against Gujarat Titans.

This golden run of form is sparking debate about his return to the Indian side. Kumar played six games in the World Cup 2019 and he claimed 10 wickets. This also included his three-wicket haul in the Semi-final against New Zealand.

Overall, he has 141 wickets in 121 ODIs with an economy of 5. His last ODI was against South Africa in 2022. After that, he did not play a 50-over match for India.

Recently, India’s former cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin in his YouTube podcast, Ash ki Baat, talked about the re-introduction of Bhuvneshwar Kumar to the ODI side. He said:

“The way our fast bowling stocks are right now, there is some struggle there. I think it is worth considering Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Why can you not consider him? Bhuvi has been able to put himself on the park for two seasons together for RCB and has been able to keep himself fit.

Both teams RCB won the title, and he was also among the top three reasons for that. He looks fit enough. I am not saying to take him straightaway, but at least give him a chance and then decide. He can swing the ball, give you overs at the death and bat a bit as well. He has a lot of batting ability.”

Moreover, India’s former Head Coach Ravi Shastri too named Bhuvneshwar Kumar in his probable 15-member squad for the World Cup 2027.

Notably, Kumar has not played a List A game since 2023 and Ranji since 2024. Although his recent performances in T20s are impeccable, the ODIs seem to be a long-shot.

The Indian management has been actively working on preparing a pace-brigade for the World Cup 2027 and some youngsters are even showing positive signs. The management and selectors seem to have moved on from the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.