Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has strongly endorsed the return of veteran seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar to the T20I squad for the upcoming tour of New Zealand, while asserting that fellow fast bowler Mohammed Shami has done more than enough to earn a recall across both Test and ODI formats.
India is set to kick off a demanding six-week tour of New Zealand on October 22, featuring a comprehensive schedule of five T20Is, five ODIs, and two Tests. According to Shastri, utilizing seasoned campaigners will be vital in challenging overseas conditions.
“There is no substitute for experience,” Shastri told TOI. “When you have a bowler of Bhuvneshwar’s quality and experience, it’s a no-brainer. With the form he showed in the IPL and his years with India, he’ll be ideal for New Zealand conditions.”
Shastri was equally emphatic regarding Shami’s international future, stating that the pacer’s red-ball and white-ball credentials warrant an immediate return to the Test and ODI setups.
Managing Jasprit Bumrah Ahead of the 2027 World Cup
While advocating for veteran depth, Shastri issued a clear warning regarding premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, stressing the need for strict workload management with the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa on the horizon.
“I don’t think he should play all three formats until the World Cup. He should focus primarily on Test cricket and feature sporadically in ODIs and T20Is. I’d rather preserve him for the two Tests in New Zealand, where he’ll be crucial,” Shastri noted.
The former coach believes the New Zealand tour will act as a major benchmark for Indian cricket, offering conditions that could closely mirror what the team will encounter during the 2027 World Cup in South Africa.
Tough Path in the World Test Championship
Commenting on India’s prospects in the World Test Championship (WTC), Shastri admitted that securing a spot in the final remains a steep uphill climb.
“They probably need to win around 90 per cent of their remaining games, including both Tests in New Zealand and at least four of the five against Australia. It’s not impossible, but a lot depends on other results as well,” he explained.
Anticipating the challenges in New Zealand, where pitches are expected to favor seam and swing coming out of winter, Shastri emphasized that quick adaptation and strong partnerships will be essential to avoid batting collapses.
Backing Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant
Shastri expressed confidence in Test captain Shubman Gill handling the leadership burden in testing conditions, noting that the young No. 4 batter is in prime form and has a proven track record in New Zealand.
On wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, Shastri’s philosophy remains straightforward: “I’ve never told Pant anything other than this: be smart. He has immense ability and shouldn’t change his natural game. Just remain aware of the match situation.”
Fielding Remains India’s Biggest Worry
Despite deep analysis of batting strategies and bowling rotations, Shastri pointed out a glaring weakness that continues to trouble the squad.
“The biggest improvement I want to see is in fielding. It has dipped alarmingly. To win major tournaments, the standards have to be much higher. Consistency in batting and bowling is important, but fielding is the area that worries me the most,” he concluded.