Ravichandran Ashwin fuels the 2027 World Cup selection debate after naming two veteran pace prospects

The selection landscape for the 2027 ODI World Cup has flared up once again, sparked by an outspoken recommendation from former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. With the national team grappling with limited depth and a lack of seasoned experience in its pacers, Ashwin has thrown his weight behind veteran swing bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a surprise recall. Highlighting the strategic need for established international composure, Ashwin pointed out that the current bowling setup relies too heavily on unproven talent, making a compelling case for a balanced attack that mixes fresh energy with tried-and-tested expertise.

Ravichandran Ashwin stirs fresh 2027 World Cup selection discussions by backing two additional speedsters

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin made a strong case for reinstating the 36-year-old Bhuvneshwar into India’s 50-over plans. Drawing a direct comparison with Mohammed Shami, Ashwin emphasized that Bhuvneshwar’s recent fitness track record gives him a distinct advantage. Over the past two seasons, Bhuvneshwar has been a standout performer for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), taking 45 wickets and serving as a key factor in back-to-back IPL title victories.

“Why not? 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? There is only one difference between Shami and Bhuvneshwar. 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,” Ashwin stated.

Beyond Bhuvneshwar, Ashwin raised serious doubts about relying solely on young prospects like Gurnoor Brar, Prasidh Krishna, and Prince Yadav for a high-stakes tournament like the World Cup. While Jasprit Bumrah remains the anchor of the pace unit, Ashwin feels the supporting cast requires a reliable foundation.

“Just because of the pure inexperience of the bowling attack, you can keep him in consideration,” Ashwin noted. “Gurnoor, Prasidh, and Prince – is that the bowling you want to play in a World Cup? I am not too sure. You can have one or two from these. Apart from that, you have Harshit and Bumrah. So with Bhuvneshwar, experience and youth will work well,” he added.

With the quadrennial event approaching, Ashwin urged the BCCI selection panel to stop endless trial-and-error experiments and finalize a settled fast-bowling core. He noted that while Harshit Rana offers useful batting depth at number eight, the clock is ticking for team management to lock in their main pacers.

“It is not the time to develop players now with 12 months to go. You gave Harshit an opportunity, and it is important to know his status now as he bats at eight. Gurnoor and Prasidh got opportunities. But you cannot remove them and bring more bowlers now. It is important to identify who your four or five pacers are, out of which you will take three for the World Cup. That is why you must have someone like Bhuvneshwar Kumar in discussions as well,” Ashwin concluded.