Is IPL form enough to earn an India comeback? Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra doesn’t think so.
According to him, the biggest hurdle in Bhuvneshwar Kumar‘s return isn’t his performance it’s the lack of Ranji cricket.
Aakash Chopra said Bhuvneshwar has been outstanding in white ball cricket, especially in the IPL, but preparing for a 50 over World Cup requires much more than bowling four overs in T20 matches.
He believes a bowler must consistently handle the workload of bowling 10 overs and fielding for 50 overs in ODI cricket.
The former opener pointed out that Bhuvneshwar hasn’t played Ranji Trophy cricket since early 2024 and has also stayed away from List A cricket for a long period.
According to Chopra, picking him directly for the 2027 ODI World Cup without enough 50 over preparation would be a mistake.
Chopra added that if the selectors are seriously considering Bhuvneshwar, they should start giving him opportunities in ODI cricket now instead of waiting until the World Cup gets closer.
Comparing him with Mohammed Shami, Chopra said Shami currently has a stronger case because he has continued playing red ball cricket and picked up 37 wickets in the Ranji Trophy.
Despite, he admitted that Bhuvneshwar has looked better than Shami in recent IPL seasons.
Despite that, Chopra feels India is unlikely to bring both experienced pacers back.
In his view, the upcoming ODI assignments, especially the New Zealand series, could make it clear whether the team management still sees a future for either of them.
For Chopra, IPL performances alone cannot decide India’s World Cup squad. Consistent domestic cricket, especially the Ranji Trophy, remains one of the biggest factors in earning a place back in the team.
