Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 19: Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has welcomed Bhuvneshwar Kumar's return to the T20I squad for the New Zealand tour and backed veteran pacer Mohammed Shami for a recall to India's Test and ODI teams, saying his performances with the red and white balls have been impressive.

India begin a demanding tour of New Zealand on October 22, featuring five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests. Shastri believes the experience of senior bowlers could prove crucial in challenging conditions.

"There is no substitute for experience," Shastri told The Times of India. Praising Bhuvneshwar's quality, experience and performances in the Indian Premier League, he said the pacer would be well suited to New Zealand conditions.

Shastri was equally emphatic about Shami's prospects, stating that the veteran fast bowler had done enough to earn a recall to the Test and ODI sides.

While supporting the return of experienced campaigners, Shastri stressed the need to manage Jasprit Bumrah's workload carefully ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be hosted by South Africa. He said Bumrah should not be expected to play all three formats until the World Cup, suggesting that the fast bowler prioritise Test cricket while making selective appearances in ODIs and T20Is.

Shastri also underlined Bumrah's importance to India's two-Test assignment in New Zealand, saying his availability could be crucial to the team's prospects.

According to Shastri, the six-week tour will provide an important assessment of India's progress and offer valuable preparation for the conditions the team could encounter in South Africa during the 2027 World Cup.

Shastri acknowledged that India's hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship final remain challenging. He said India would probably need to win around 90 per cent of their remaining matches, including both Tests in New Zealand and at least four of the five Tests against Australia.

Although he described the task as difficult, Shastri said qualification was not impossible, while noting that results in other matches would also influence India's chances.

He expects New Zealand's conditions to test India's batting, with fresh pitches offering assistance to seam and swing bowlers. New Zealand will be emerging from winter, and movement in the air and off the surface, combined with windy conditions, could make batting particularly difficult.

Shastri emphasised the importance of building partnerships, warning that wickets could fall in clusters if Indian batters fail to adapt quickly.

He described the tour as a significant leadership test for Test captain Shubman Gill but expressed confidence in the young batter's ability to handle the challenge. Shastri pointed to Gill's current form and previous success in New Zealand as reasons for optimism.

On Rishabh Pant, Shastri advised the wicketkeeper-batter to retain his natural attacking approach while remaining mindful of the match situation. He believes Pant's immense ability should not be restricted, provided he makes smart decisions according to the demands of the game.

Despite discussing India's batting and bowling strengths, Shastri identified fielding as the area requiring the greatest improvement. He expressed concern over what he described as a significant decline in India's fielding standards, stressing that sharper fielding would be essential for success in major tournaments.

While consistency in batting and bowling remains important, Shastri said India must raise their fielding standards to compete effectively at the highest level.