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India Urged to Recall Bhuvneshwar Kumar After Failure to Defend 351 Against West Indies
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News18•04-10-2026, 20:30
India Urged to Recall Bhuvneshwar Kumar After Failure to Defend 351 Against West Indies
- •Hanuma Vihari called for the return of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami to India's ODI setup, emphasizing the team's over-reliance on Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya for breakthroughs.
- •Vihari's comments followed India's inability to defend 351 runs against the West Indies in the third ODI, marking their highest-ever chase conceded and a five-wicket defeat.
- •Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who last played an ODI in 2022, has shown strong form in the IPL, taking 45 wickets in 30 matches across the 2025 and 2026 seasons for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
- •Vihari stressed that India needs experienced bowlers like Bhuvneshwar and Shami to provide stability and security, especially with the new ball, and to secure crucial breakthroughs.
- •He warned that failing to defend a total above 350 is a significant wake-up call for India, indicating the team is regressing, particularly with the 2027 World Cup less than a year away.
Key Questions Answered
Hanuma Vihari urged India to recall the experienced pacers after the team failed to defend a 351-run target against the West Indies in the third ODI, exposing weaknesses in the bowling attack ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar caught attention by picking up 45 wickets across the 2025 and 2026 IPL seasons for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, including 28 wickets in the 2026 season alone.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar last played an ODI for India in 2022 before injuries affected his career and he subsequently fell out of the team's regular setup.
