Aakash Chopra, the former India opener, thinks Bhuvneshwar Kumar's path to the 2027 ODI World Cup is steeper than it might seem. It's not his IPL form, where he's been a key player for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, or his record in ODIs—141 wickets in 120 innings—that worries him. The problem, according to Chopra, is the lack of sustained workload from first-class and List A cricket.
Kumar has not featured in a first-class match since January 2024, and his last List A appearance was in December 2023. He's relied heavily on the IPL and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, but Chopra argues these formats don't build the kind of endurance a bowler needs for a 50-over World Cup. In an ODI, a bowler can expect to bowl 10 overs and field for the rest of the 50. That’s a full day’s work, and it needs to be done consistently.
Chopra on the IPL vs. World Cup workload
Chopra was clear about the gap. “You can’t just rely on four overs here and there in T20s to get ready for the World Cup,” he said in a YouTube video. “If you're serious about picking Bhuvi for the 2027 event, you need to start him back in the ODI setup now. You can’t wait for the tournament.”
The IPL has been kind to Kumar. He’s played a big role in RCB’s back-to-back title wins, but his domestic preparation hasn’t kept pace. That, Chopra fears, could limit his ability to handle the long grind of a World Cup campaign.
Shami’s advantage but Kumar’s IPL edge
Mohammad Shami isn’t perfect either. His last ODI came during the 2023 Champions Trophy, and he hasn’t played for India in the format since. But he has continued to play first-class cricket, including picking up 37 wickets in the Ranji Trophy. That, according to Chopra, gives him a slight edge. Shami will also feature in the Duleep Trophy, which will keep his red-ball fitness sharp.
Still, Chopra thinks Kumar had the better IPL season, and in a direct comparison of match-to-match performance in that tournament, Kumar came out on top. “In terms of man-to-man marking in the IPL, Bhuvi is ahead of him,” Chopra said.
ODI series vs. New Zealand as the turning point
Chopra believes the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand could be the moment the selectors decide whether Kumar or Shami—or neither—has a place in the 2027 plans. “By New Zealand, we’ll know who is coming in or if nobody is coming in,” he said. “If neither of them is selected for that series, that’s it for them.”
Kumar’s last ODI appearance came in January 2022, and Shami’s was in 2023. The gap is growing, and so is the pressure to prove they can still handle the rigors of a 50-over game. For Chopra, that means they need to start playing now—not just in the T20s.