Former India player Wasim Jaffer welcomed Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s selection in India’s T20I squad for the upcoming New Zealand tour. He said that the veteran pacer thoroughly deserved it, and the selectors didn’t do him any favours by choosing him. He returned to the Indian team after an almost four-year absence. Jaffer stated that the bowler had proved his fitness and performed well wherever he has played as well.

He said in his YouTube video: “Better late than never. He deserves this. Unko select karke koi meherbani nahi ki hai kisi ne (nobody has done a favor by selecting him). His performances have been there, and his fitness has been good. I am clueless why he was dropped earlier.”

“He has always done well in the IPL and for Uttar Pradesh. So, what was the reason he was not getting picked? We should keep the age aside. We have young players, but we should not neglect the ones doing well because you ultimately need experience when there is pressure. You cannot play with an entirely young team. You need to have that mixture of experience and youth,” he again stated.

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With Bhuvneshwar Kumar back, Jaffer added that Mohammad Shami should also get a call-up for the New Zealand tour. He added that the seasoned bowler will be a great addition to the Test and ODI teams as well.

“Shami should be picked, especially in the Test team. I don’t know about the ODI team because we have tried many players like Gurnoor Brar, Prasidh Krishna, and Nitish Reddy there, but I don’t think the management still has that confidence. You are not giving Siraj game time consistently. I don’t understand who your second and third seamers are. According to me, Shami should be in the ODI team, given that the World Cup is also very near. When you have the quality, you should play him. My first choice would be Bumrah, Shami, and Siraj, and I will think about rebuilding after the World Cup,” he shared.

“I would like to see Shami make a comeback in Tests. I have been looking forward to it for a long time. My focus will be on Shami and Auqib Nabi whenever the team is announced. If Shami is neglected here, I feel the door will be closed for him,” he concluded.