India’s bowling attack has come under serious scrutiny after a shocking defeat against the West Indies and former India batter Hanuma Vihari believes the team needs to make some experienced additions before the 2027 World Cup.
Hanuma Vihari has called for Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami to return to India’s ODI setup. He feels India cannot continue depending heavily on Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya to provide important breakthroughs, especially with injuries always a possibility.
His comments came after India failed to defend 351 runs against the West Indies in the third ODI, losing the match by five wickets. It was West Indies’ highest ever successful chase. They reached the target in 48.2 overs, after scoring 405 runs in the previous match.
India’s bowling has struggled on flat pitches, particularly because Jasprit Bumrah is generally rested from ODIs, while Mohammed Siraj has either been overlooked or struggled for form. The earlier combination of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami had helped India solve their powerplay wicket-taking problem during the 2023 World Cup but that issue appears to be returning.
Hanuma Vihari believes Bhuvneshwar Kumar could bring much-needed control and experience with the new ball. He pointed out that the 36-year-old remains one of India’s best bowlers and has continued to prove his value in the IPL.
He also stressed that India needs experienced backup options rather than relying only on Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya. According to Hanuma Vihari, having Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami in the squad would give India greater security and provide dependable options whenever the team needs a breakthrough.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar last played an ODI for India in 2022, after injuries began affecting his career. However, he has remained an important performer in the IPL. Across the 2025 and 2026 seasons, he picked up 45 wickets in 30 matches for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, making him a strong candidate for return to international cricket.
Hanuma Vihari also described India’s failure to defend a total of more than 350 runs as a major warning sign, especially with the 2027 World Cup now less than a year away. He questioned whether the result should be treated as a wake-up call and suggested that India’s bowling situation needs a serious review.
The former India batter also raised concerns about the current backup options after Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar and Nitish Kumar Reddy conceded heavily in the third ODI. Hanuma Vihari felt West Indies had exposed weaknesses in India’s bowling attack and warned that the problem could become even bigger against stronger teams such as Australia, South Africa and England.
With the 2027 World Cup less than a year away, India now has limited time to strengthen its bowling unit and find reliable options beyond its key players.
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