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Navdeep Saini backed two experienced fast bowlers, Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup, saying both of the veterans deserve to play for the India National Cricket Team based on their recent performances in domestic cricket and in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami, the pacer duo remains a favorite among Indian cricket fans because of their continued hard work and effectiveness in competitive matches, even after being sidelined by the Indian cricket team selectors.
Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar deserve to be selected for Team India
Via India TV, Navdeep Saini, 33, who last played for Team India during a T20I match against Sri Lanka on July 28, 2021, at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, expressed that Shami and Kumar performed well in domestic cricket for their respective team. Only because of their recent performances, the pacer duo should be selected for the national team. Saini reckoned that performing continuously well in domestic cricket is not a matter of joke.
"I feel Shami or Bhuvneshwar are performing really well in domestic cricket or the IPL. I think they should be selected (for the national team). They are working really hard & it’s not easy to play domestic cricket, particularly Ranji Trophy," Navdeep Saini opined.
Mohammed Shami was lethal in Ranji Trophy 2025-26
Mohammed Shami, one of the out-of-favour pacers, who used to be the bowling partner of Jasprit Bumrah only a few years ago, was hit hard by injury. After missing out on competitive matches for a long period, the Bengal pacer bounced back well with his experience and controlled bowling.
In the previous season of the Ranji Trophy, the 35-year-old took 37 wickets in 13 innings with a strike rate of 37.00. In the semifinals of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26, he got 9 wickets, including 8 in the first innings, against Jammu and Kashmir.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar was a dominating force for RCB in IPL 2025 and IPL 2026
On the other side, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who last featured for the Indian national cricket team back in November 2022, impressed throughout the IPL 2025 and 2026 seasons with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. During the 2025 season, Kumar scalped 17 wickets in 14 matches with an economy rate of 9.28 to help Bengaluru earn their maiden IPL trophy.
The following IPL season proved as the testimony to the 36-year-old seamer, who clinched an amazing 28 wickets in 16 matches, supported by an economy rate of 7.95.
Navdeep Saini further said that Shami did really well with his state team in the Ranji Trophy while Kumar was impressive in the IPL. He also mentioned that Bhuvneshwar Kumar will now show his class in the UPT20 League as well.
"It takes a lot of effort to play in the Ranji Trophy. Shami bhai is doing really well,l and Bhuvi bhai did well in the IPL. He is going to play in the UPT20 league as well. So, I think they should get a chance in the Indian team," Navdeep Saini added.
