Aakash Chopra on Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami's comeback chances for 2027 World Cup

Aakash Chopra has outlined the challenges facing Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami as they pursue a return to India's ODI setup ahead of the 2027 World Cup. Both fast bowlers remain outside the current squad, and their pathway back depends on sustained domestic and international cricket over the coming months. Chopra's assessment highlights the workload demands and preparation timeline required for either player to be considered for the tournament in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

The former India opener emphasised that neither bowler can afford to rely solely on limited domestic cricket or IPL performances to secure a World Cup berth. Building match fitness and consistency across multiple formats requires a structured approach spanning several months before the tournament.

"One thing goes against Bhuvi. I love him to bits, and I want him to play for India again, but when you don't play Ranji, your workload becomes limited. There are a handful of matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. In ODI cricket, you have to bowl 10 overs and field for 50 overs in a match. It's a lot of workload," Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel.

What workload challenges does Bhuvneshwar Kumar face?

Chopra emphasised that continuous participation in ODI cricket is essential for any bowler preparing for a World Cup. The demands of a 50-over tournament require players to be integrated into the squad well before the event begins, not selected on the basis of recent T20 performances.

"It's not easy in a tournament like the World Cup where you have to keep playing continuously. Not only the World Cup, but you will have to be a part of every ODI game from a year earlier. You will have to start playing him from now on," Chopra said.

Why does selection without preparation time pose a risk?

Chopra stressed that selecting either bowler without adequate preparation time would be a strategic error. The demands of a 50-over World Cup require players to be integrated into the ODI squad well in advance, not picked on the basis of brief appearances in T20 tournaments.

"He is not a bad option, but it will be a mistake unless we give him at least one year to get ready. If you pick someone for the 50-over World Cup based on him bowling four overs in the two months of the IPL and a month of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, no matter how good that person is, it will be wrong," Chopra said.

Which bowler has the stronger domestic credentials?

Mohammed Shami has built a stronger domestic case than Bhuvneshwar Kumar through his recent Ranji Trophy performances and scheduled appearances in upcoming tournaments. However, Chopra believes the selectors are unlikely to pick both bowlers for the World Cup squad.

"It's the same thing for Shami, although he has played the Ranji Trophy and picked up 37 wickets. He is going to play the Duleep Trophy now as well. So Shami has a slightly better case to make, but the truth is that if we do man-to-man marking in the IPL, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is ahead of him in that respect," Chopra said.

"My understanding is that the selectors, captain, and coach won't take both of them. Maximum one of them can come, and who that one will be, we will come to know in the next four to six months. By New Zealand, we will have an answer as to which of them is going to come or if no one is going to come, because if neither of them is taken to New Zealand, then that's it," Chopra said.