Bhuvneshwar Kumar has once again found himself at the centre of conversations around the Indian team after two impressive IPL seasons with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.The veteran pacer has not played for India since November 2022, but his performances in RCB’s back-to-back IPL title-winning campaigns have revived calls for his return. Bhuvneshwar took 17 wickets in IPL 2025 before producing an even better campaign in 2026, claiming 28 wickets at an average of 17.89. He finished just one wicket short of winning the Purple Cap for a record third time.The 36-year-old has repeatedly played down expectations of an India recall. However, speaking to Jatin Sapru on his YouTube channel, Bhuvneshwar admitted that he feels he deserves another opportunity in the national team.“Of course,” he told Sapru.But the pacer immediately stressed that an India comeback is not the sole motivation behind his cricket.“I’m not playing to prove anything, but I’d be happy to play for India again.”
Bhuvneshwar no longer waits for India call
Bhuvneshwar, who last represented India in the T20I series in New Zealand in November 2022, said he has reached a stage where another omission would no longer affect him.“I have gone past that time when I used to wait for the next series,” he said.After the New Zealand tour, the pacer initially believed the selectors could bring him back into the side. He had received a call from the team management and interpreted it as a possible indication that he would be considered for the following two series.That expectation, however, did not materialise.“Till a few series,” he said when asked if he expected to return to the Indian side after the New Zealand tour. “Because I had received a call. What they said, based on that I felt maybe next two series. But then I realised it’s not what they said.“It wasn’t hurtful, because then I knew what was happening, and I made peace with it. It wasn’t easy, but family played a big role,” he added.
Bhuvneshwar knew 2022 World Cup could be his last
Bhuvneshwar also revealed that he had already sensed his India World Cup career could be over after the team’s semifinal defeat to England in Adelaide at the 2022 T20 World Cup.After returning to his room following the loss, he called his wife Nupur and told her that he believed it had been his final World Cup for India.“In Adelaide it happened. I came to my room and told my wife. I told this from my experience. In the dressing room, everyone was disappointed. There were a few briefs before we left. But when I came back to my room I told Nupur this was my last World Cup. Because what I have seen from my experience, when you lose a tournament like this selectors want to look ahead, and that is fair,” he said.Bhuvneshwar’s last India appearance came in Napier in November 2022, shortly after the team’s semifinal exit from the T20 World Cup in Australia. While he had initially hoped for another chance, he eventually accepted that the selectors were looking towards the next cycle.His recent IPL form, though, has once again put his name into the conversation around India’s T20I setup.
