‘Why Would I Say No?’: India Star Declares Himself Available For 2027 ODI World Cup

Pacer Kumar, 36, is ready to play for India again if selected for the World Cup. He joined Lucknow Falcons for the UPT20 League, focusing on playing cricket.

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Bhuvneshwar Kumar last played an ODI in January 2022. (AP Photo)

January 21, 2022 – the last time Bhuvneshwar Kumar pulled on an India jersey for an international match. It was his last ODI before he fell down the pecking order as the team moved on.

It has been close to five years since Bhuvneshwar‘s last ODI and nearly three years since he last played a List A game. Yet there has been a sudden surge in support for his recall to the one-day setup, with next year’s World Cup being the ultimate goal.

The likes of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravi Shastri and Kris Srikkanth have been firm advocates of the veteran fast bowler’s inclusion in India’s one-day squad, and not just because the 2027 World Cup will be played on South African pitches, which have traditionally been pace-friendly.

India are also dealing with a fitness crisis, and someone of Bhuvneshwar’s experience could prove to be a valuable addition to the squad, even though he hasn’t been playing one-day cricket for a while now.

The 36-year-old, though, has impressed with his performances in consecutive IPL seasons for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, playing a central role in their back-to-back title-winning campaigns.

So, if the selectors do consider him, is he ready?

“Why would I say no if I get a call? Absolutely ready,” Kumar was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times.

Kumar, who is currently gearing up to play in the UP T20 League where he will represent Lucknow Falcons, though adds where his current focus lies.

“Honestly, I cannot say exactly how ready I am. My job is to play cricket and that is why I have come here to play in the UP T20 league. I didn’t come here with the intention of moving to another place or reaching another level,” he said.

“We play IPL knowing we have to perform and win matches for the team, but I didn’t come here to the UP T20 league hoping to get picked elsewhere or because someone said something,” he added.

Kumar is not getting swayed by the voices calling for his recall and is happy playing the game – just for the love of it.

“What everyone is saying is their opinion. My job is simply to play cricket. I didn’t come here with the sole aim of doing well or advancing to the next level and as I’ve said before, I love the game and playing is my passion, which is why I play,” he said.

For the record, Kumar has 141 wickets from 121 ODIs while averaging 35.11.

About the Author

Feroz Khan

Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience …Read More

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Original source: https://www.news18.com/cricket/