Bhuvneshwar Kumar's India Comeback: Does RCB Ace Stake A Claim For 2027 World Cup?

Bhuvneshwar Kumar for RCB [Source: AFP]Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s sudden rise in the ongoing Indian Premier League for his franchise, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, has grabbed eyeballs. The veteran pacer managed to deliver a match-winning spell of 4/23 from his four overs to restrict the Mumbai Indians to just 166 runs in the May 10 clash. However, this was not the only occasion where Bhuvneshwar shone. The current purple cap holder in IPL 2026 has been super consistent with the ball this season, and his heroics have now given rise to speculation about him representing the Indian national cricket team at the 2027 World Cup. How Has Bhuvneshwar Kumar Performed So Far in IPL 2026? Bhuvneshwar Kumar's performance in IPL 2026 has been breathtaking. From the 11 matches he has played till now, Kumar has managed to bag 21 wickets while boasting an average of 15.28 and a strike rate of only 12.2, while also keeping the run flow tight at an economy rate of 7.46. He has been on a consistent rise since 2025. In the previous season, too, Bhuvneshwar managed to take 17 wickets in 14 appearances, although he was a bit on the expensive side, with an economy rate of 9.28. His previous seasons before 2025 were underwhelming; however, this gradual rise in performance has now sparked speculation and raised the possibility of him being in India's squad for the 2027 World Cup. YearSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableMatchesSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableWicketsSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableEconomy RateSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableStrike RateSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableIPL 2026SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table11SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table21SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table7.46SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table12.2SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableIPL 2025SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table14SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table17SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table9.28SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table18.3SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableIPL 2024SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table16SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table11SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table9.35SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table31SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableIPL 2023SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table14SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table16SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table8.33SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table19.1SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableIPL 2022SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table14SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table12SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table7.34SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table26SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table [Bhuvneshwar Kumar in IPL over the years]For the unaware, Bhuvneshwar last played an ODI match in January 2022 against South Africa. His last T20I game was also in 2022 when he featured against New Zealand at Napier. Since the last three years, youngsters and other overpowering talents have taken his place as Bhuvneshwar slowly faded from the scene. Why Was Bhuvneshwar Kumar Sidelined From India ODI and T20I Squad? Bhuvneshwar Kumar was sidelined from ODIs and T20Is due to chronic injuries. Also, a noticeable difference in bowling speed, with him bowling below 130 kph, was one of the primary reasons Kumar was sidelined from the team. Bhuvi also struggled to take wickets, although he remained economical on the field. Back in 2020, he faced multiple injuries, including a sports hernia, hamstring injuries, and chronic lower back issues.Also Read- CSK Great Badrinath Issues Official Statement On Infamous Krunal Pandya CommentThese, alongside poor performances in 2021 and 2022, led to the gradual elimination of one of India's greatest swing bowlers from the national setup. Indian Talents Who Filled In Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s Place Bhuvneshwar Kumar's absence saw India fill the gap with Mohammed Siraj and pace veteran Mohammed Shami, who to date have taken 76 and 58 wickets, respectively. Jasprit Bumrah, too, though now a regular in the T20I setup, was also instrumental in India's ODI campaigns back in 2022-23. 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RowDelete ColumnDelete Table24.3SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableHardik PandyaSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table31SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table34SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table5.59SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table25.5SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table27.3SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TablePrasidh KrishnaSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table19SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table31SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table5.87SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table28.03SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table28.6SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableHarshit RanaSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table14SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table26SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table6.21SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table27.38SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table26.4SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableArshdeep SinghSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table15SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table25SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table5.38SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table24.44SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table27.2SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableUmran MalikSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table10SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table13SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table6.54SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table30.69SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table28.1SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table [Stats of Indian pace bowlers between 2022-2026 in ODIs after Bhuvi snub]All-rounders like Hardik Pandya and Shardul Thakur also contributed, while rising talents Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana, alongside Arshdeep Singh, quickly filled the void left by Bhuvneshwar, who was known for his nifty bowling and swift movements on the field. Will Bhuvneshwar Kumar Feature In 2027 World Cup? The 2027 World Cup is set to take place in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The grounds call for the ‘swing’ star Bhuvi; however, given the current dynamics of the team, the chances of him featuring in the ODI squad are bleak. Bhuvi is currently 36 years old, and the veteran has been out of the national setup for almost 4 years. This adds to his low likelihood of gelling with a team that has a completely aggressive, T20-like mindset. Moreover, Kumar also bowls at a much lower speed if compared to Arshdeep’s 145kph guns. Even though Bhuvi has been very economical with the ball during his days in the ODI format, a national comeback call is out of sight. BCCI Looks Forward To Younger Talents In place of him, newer and younger talents like the sensational Prince Yadav, who took 16 wickets so far, and pacers like Anshul Kamboj, who took 19 wickets, might get the spotlight. In fact, if thought about on a personal level, Bhuvneshwar himself might also not be very keen to represent the national team, since he will no longer be a long-term prospect for the management. The BCCI and the management will not be interested in roping in Bhuvi as they are more keen to back young talents for the future. Also Read- Big Names Whom Mumbai Indians Can Release After IPL 2026 Elimination