India’s failure to defend a score of 351 against the West Indies in the third ODI has raised serious concerns over the depth and reliability of their bowling attack. With the 2027 ODI World Cup less than a year away, former India batter Hanuma Vihari believes the team must bring experienced campaigners back into the setup to address these vulnerabilities.
The West Indies chased down the massive target in 48.2 overs to secure a five-wicket victory. The result exposed India’s struggles on a flat surface and highlighted the lack of experienced options behind their leading bowlers. Vihari feels India need to address this issue immediately rather than continuing to rely on a small group of frontline bowlers for breakthroughs and control.
Hanuma Vihari calls for experienced campaigners
Vihari believes India should consider bringing back Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami to strengthen the ODI bowling attack. Bhuvneshwar has not played an ODI for India since 2022, but he has continued to produce strong performances in the IPL. The 36-year-old took 45 wickets in 30 IPL matches across the 2025 and 2026 seasons for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and Vihari feels his ability to control the new ball could still make him an invaluable option for India.
“I think they have to bring Bhuvneshwar Kumar back. In my opinion, he is still one of the best bowlers in the country. He is proving in the IPL,” Vihari said on his YouTube channel.
The former batter also wants Shami back in the ODI setup, believing the experience of the two pacers could give India greater security when they need wickets or have to defend a challenging total.
India cannot depend only on Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya
Vihari stressed that India need reliable backup options instead of placing too much responsibility on Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya. He believes injuries or an off day for either player could leave the bowling attack short of experience.
“You cannot just depend on Bumrah and Hardik. You have to have backup in case of such injuries. I will say go with experience. Get Bhuvneshwar and Shami back. You will have some security with experience. When you need a breakthrough, you can go to them, and they will do the job for you. You need stability and experience will always count.” he added.
With the 2027 World Cup approaching, Vihari’s argument is that India should prioritise proven performers who can handle pressure rather than wait until the tournament to discover whether their backup options are ready.
West Indies chase exposes concerns over India’s bowling depth
India’s 351-run total appeared to put them in a strong position, but the West Indies completed the chase with 10 balls to spare. The performance has raised particular questions about the backup bowling options after Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar and Nitish Kumar Reddy struggled to contain the hosts. Vihari described the defeat as a major warning sign for the Indian team and questioned whether their bowling unit is moving in the right direction.
“We could not defend 350. Is this not a wake-up call? I think the team is going backwards. This is a big blow. The West Indies exposed the Indian bowling attack. They are not even part of the World Cup. Imagine top teams like Australia, South Africa, England,” he concluded.
