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.

[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.

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These, 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.

[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.

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