Former India pacer Navdeep Saini has backed Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a return to the national team. Saini believes their recent performances in domestic cricket and the IPL deserve recognition. Both experienced pacers are currently outside India’s international setup. Saini made the comments while speaking to India TV. He highlighted the difficulty of consistently performing in domestic cricket, especially the Ranji Trophy.

“I feel Shami or Bhuvneshwar are performing really well in domestic cricket or IPL. I think they should be selected (to the national team). They are working really hard & it’s not easy to play domestic cricket, particularly Ranji Trophy. It takes a lot of effort to play in the Ranji Trophy. Shami bhai is doing really well and Bhuvi bhai did well in the IPL. He is going to play in the UPT20 league as well. So, I think they should get a chance in the Indian team,” Saini said.

Kumar enjoyed an impressive 2026 IPL campaign with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He finished with 28 wickets and was among the tournament’s leading wicket-takers. The Bengal player Shami , meanwhile, has continued playing domestic cricket while working his way back towards international contention. The Indian player’s comments come with the 2027 ODI World Cup approaching. His backing could renew debate over whether India should consider experienced campaigners alongside younger fast-bowling options.

“We keep learning until we retire from cricket”: Navdeep Saini opens up on adapting as a cricketer

Navdeep Saini has opened up about the importance of constantly adapting as a professional cricketer. The experienced Indian pacer believes learning never stops, regardless of how long a player has been involved in the sport. Discussing his approach, the quick bowler stressed that every phase of a career brings different challenges, requiring players to develop new skills and adjust their methods. His views reflect the demands of modern cricket, where conditions, formats and opposition can change rapidly. Saini has previously highlighted how pace bowling requires continuous work on variations, fitness and tactical awareness.

The determined seamer explained that adaptation is not limited to younger players. “We keep learning until we retire from cricket,” he said. He believes players must remain open to improvement throughout their careers rather than relying only on skills that brought them success initially. The versatile pacer has also spoken about expanding his bowling repertoire beyond raw pace. “My forte is speed. So, variation becomes very important. Like how I would set up a particular batsman. How I can lure him into a mistake and surprise him with my speed,” he previously explained. He also stressed the importance of developing the stamina required for longer spells. “Another aspect is bowling long spells. Results may not come in one short spell, so I should be fit enough to bowl for a longer period,” the pacer said.