Last Updated: August 2, 2026 11:39 AM
India may need to reconsider experienced pacers for the World Cup. Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar could help the team. The current pace attack has lacked consistency lately. The veterans could provide valuable experience and quality to the squad. Let’s understand whether India recall these veteran pace bowlers completely.
India’s ODI World Cup History and Current Situation
India have not won the ODI World Cup since 2011. They finished runners-up in the 2023 World Cup. India remained unbeaten until the tournament final. They subsequently won the 2024 and 2026 T20 championships. The Champions Trophy 2025 was also won by India.
The ODI World Cup remains a major target. Under captain Shubman Gill, India lost three series. India reportedly lost three of their last four matches. The losses highlight inconsistency in the current setup.
Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are first-choice bowlers. India need two or three additional dependable pacers. World Cup 2027 will require a strong pace attack.
Current Pace Attack Options and Consistency Issues
India’s current pace bowling alternatives have shown inconsistency issues. Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh are among the alternatives. Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar are also options. Prince Yadav and Mayank Yadav are other choices.
These younger bowlers have not yet shown consistency. Consistency remains a major concern with the young bowlers. Younger pacers lack the experience of seasoned bowlers. India’s pace attack struggled when Bumrah was unavailable.
The struggles strengthen the case for experienced alternatives. Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have experience. Both veterans have delivered match-winning performances for India. Their inclusion could give India additional depth there.
Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s Statistics and Case
Mohammed Shami is India’s leading World Cup wicket-taker overall. Shami has taken 55 wickets in only 18 innings. He has 4 five-wicket hauls in the World Cup. Overall, Shami has taken 206 wickets in 108 ODIs. He is the second-fastest to reach 200 ODI wickets.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has claimed 141 wickets in 121 ODIs. His economy rate is 5.08 in international cricket. Shami’s consistency in line and length is excellent. Bhuvneshwar is renowned for his swing bowling ability. Both veterans have shown encouraging domestic cricket form.
Their IPL performances have also been quite good. Age is the main concern for their comeback to cricket. World Cup 2027 definitely requires experienced pace bowling options.
Their inclusion could manage Bumrah’s workload effectively. India’s management reportedly has no immediate interest currently. The central debate is proven experience versus development.
