LUCKNOW, Sept. 7 -- Former Team India batter Suresh Raina on Sunday made a passionate case for Bhuvneshwar Kumar's return to the national side and for Mohammad Shami to be a key partner as Team India plans for the 2027 World Cup. Raina, who has been closely watching the domestic circuit, hailed the UPT20 League tournament as a major platform and underlined why experience could prove decisive in South African conditions. "Bhuvi playing all the matches, he should be back in the Indian team. Rinku should also be given the captaincy of KKR... When you have a lion standing in your own home, don't bring in lions from outside! When he is taking the team to the finals four times, there must be something, right," he further said. One of the most successful batters of IPL in his time and former UP captain, Raina Raina stressed that Bhuvi's recent returns to form and consistent match practice make him a viable World Cup option. "Bhuvi's performance has been so good and is doing well. No, winning back-to-back IPL trophies... we've won four, and two Champions Leagues. So it's the right time now. Even one of our selector is from UP, I am sure he is observing all these things. We met recently, so definitely, there is a World Cup coming up for Bhuvi," he added. "He (Bhuvi) should be there! We talk about experience because what Dhoni bhai believed when we were winning was that you don't just need pace... you need swing, line and length, hitting those areas, that passion, that mindset... how to win matches. Bhuvi has been playing for so long, so he is fully experienced-like fully cooked rice. Now, which pitch you play him on is very important! It feels crucial, and the team really needs it; he will get that bounce in South Africa..." Raina pointed to India's historical trajectory and the value of seasoned campaigners in big tournaments. "No, the World Cup will be very important. After the 2011 World Cup, we won the Champions Trophy and the T20 World Cup. This World Cup is happening in a nation where we played back in 2003. So having experience in the team will be crucial." "Right now, it's very important that even in the selection committee, you consider Hardik and Bhuvi can also bat if you need 80 runs off 60 balls. He has the technique and the awareness. I am sure Shubman Gill will realize that experience matters and he is young right now too. When Virat and Rohit discuss it, he will definitely be in the scheme of things." On the seam-bowling combination, Raina advocated pairing Bhuvneshwar with Shami to cover both swing and pace. "Not just Bhuvi, but Mohammad Shami as well. Look at Shami's performance, the way he is bowling whether in four-day or five-day Duleep Trophy matches, he is still bowling with the same pace. Now, how the combination is formed, that line of thinking is key and if you take six fast bowlers, four will be proper pacers, two will be all-rounders." Raina ended by reiterating that domestic tournaments like the UP T20 League are vital for selectors to assess readiness, even as red-ball competitions remain on the calendar for future assessment. His message was clear: for India to navigate South African pitches successfully, experience, control and the right seam-bowling mix will be indispensable. "It's a big platform. Here, as you can see, almost all the players who play in the IPL are participating. And the biggest thing is that both Bhuvi and Rinku are playing, so look at the crowd-it's huge! There's entertainment, and the way the organizers have conducted matches earlier... Sanjay bhai, then Rajiv Shukla sir... the proper coaching methodology," said Raina, brand ambassador of the UPT20 League....