Ashwin: Shami's India Door Still Open After Bhuvneshwar's Recall

Ravichandran Ashwin has offered a dose of optimism to Mohammed Shami's supporters, insisting that the veteran pacer's path back into the Indian team is far from closed despite Ajit Agarkar's exit as chief selector coinciding with Bhuvneshwar Kumar's surprise recall. As CricketBuzz reported earlier this week, Bhuvneshwar has been named in India's squad for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand, marking his first senior call-up in four years.

Ashwin believes the decision to bring back Bhuvneshwar, who hasn't featured in an ODI since 2022, signals that the selectors are once again valuing experience and skill over raw pace alone. The swing bowler's ability to move the new ball and control the death overs could prove invaluable for India's bowling attack heading into next year's World Cup, and Ashwin feels this shift in thinking keeps Shami firmly in the conversation too.

Door Still Open, Says Ashwin

"The door is not shut for Shami," Ashwin remarked, pointing out that Bhuvneshwar's return after such a long gap proves selectors are willing to trust proven performers when conditions and form align. CricketBuzz understands that Shami, despite his recent fitness struggles and limited game time, remains on the selectors' radar, with his experience in crunch tournaments considered a valuable asset for the showpiece event.

Elsewhere in India's build-up, young all-rounder Naman Dhir impressed on debut, picking up figures of 3/31 in the series opener against the West Indies, while skipper Suryakumar Yadav's maiden T20I century powered India to a comfortable win with 32 balls to spare. Former England spinner Monty Panesar also weighed in on the broader national conversation, suggesting Virat Kohli's fitness and hunger could keep him relevant well beyond the 2027 ODI World Cup. With selection debates heating up across formats, stay with CricketBuzz for more updates as India fine-tunes its squad ahead of the big tournament.