Navdeep Saini, the Delhi and Kolkata Knight Riders pacer, has expressed his belief that Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar warrant consideration for the Indian national team. Both players currently remain outside the national setup, with selectors yet to provide clarity on whether they will be evaluated for future selection. Saini's backing comes at a time when the Indian management has continued to prioritise younger bowlers, who have struggled to make an impact during recent series against Ireland and England.
Saini, part of India's historic Border-Gavaskar Trophy win in 2020-21, highlighted the performances of both pacers in domestic and franchise cricket. He acknowledged the difficulty of sustaining form in competitive domestic tournaments and the IPL while remaining outside the national team picture.
"I can’t comment on what the selectors are thinking, but as a player, I feel Mohammed Shami or Bhuvneshwar Kumar are performing really well in domestic cricket or IPL. I think they should be selected (to the national team). They are working really hard and it’s not easy to play domestic cricket, particularly Ranji Trophy. It takes a lot of effort to play in the Ranji Trophy," Saini told India TV in an interview.
"Shami bhai is doing really well and Bhuvi bhai did well in the IPL. He is going to play in the UPT20 league as well. So, I think they should get a chance in the Indian team," he added.
Bhuvneshwar's IPL performance and Shami's domestic form
Bhuvneshwar Kumar's 2026 IPL campaign delivered significant numbers for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The 36-year-old claimed 28 wickets during the tournament, finishing joint-second on the highest wicket-taker list behind Gujarat Titans' Kagiso Rabada. His performance at the top of the bowling attack demonstrated sustained effectiveness in franchise cricket despite being absent from international action.
Selection clarity awaited from Indian selectors
Shami, on the other hand, continues to feature in domestic cricket, including the Ranji Trophy, maintaining his involvement in competitive formats. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar has repeatedly raised concerns over Shami's fitness, which has formed part of the reasoning behind his non-selection for the national team. The 35-year-old last represented India during the Champions Trophy in 2025, where he claimed nine wickets across five matches, but has not featured in the national setup since then.
The Indian selectors have not yet communicated their position on whether Shami and Bhuvneshwar will be reconsidered for national team duties. Saini's public backing underscores the ongoing debate within Indian cricket circles about the balance between backing experienced performers with proven domestic and franchise records and the management's preference for developing younger bowling talent ahead of the upcoming 2027 World Cup.