.jpg?type=hq)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar with Virat Kohli during CWC 2019. Credits - AFP
The way Bhuvneshwar Kumar is operating in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026), the right-arm swing master has been the biggest positive for the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
Bhuvneshwar is currently holding the Purple Cap for his disciplined fast bowling. Quite recently, the 36-year-old pacer bagged the Player of the Match award against the Mumbai Indians. As RCB topped the table, Bhuvi snapped four wickets and then tonked a maximum in the final over of the match.
As Bhuvneshwar is rewinding the clock, former cricketers and fans are pushing an India comeback narrative on social media. However, the BCCI moved on from the yesterday's star a long time ago.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar backed for India comeback
After his exploits vs MI, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was backed for an India comeback by Ravi Ashwin, who is currently in the comms box, and another cricketer-turned-expert, Aakash Chopra.
The right-arm swing bowler last played for India back in 2022, but as the Men in Blue lost to England infamously in the semifinal of the T20 World Cup in Australia, the team management thought of moving on from the experienced paceman.
Although he played a couple of matches after the embarrassing T20 World Cup exit, the Indian management decided to groom Arshdeep Singh and Mohammad Siraj in Bhuvi's place. Fortunately for India, the move worked like a charm, resulting in two successive T20 World Cups.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar on his comeback to Indian team
Putting all arguments to rest, the man himself, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, spoke about his India comeback. While speaking with the RCB franchise, the IPL veteran expressed satisfaction after playing over 200 matches in the lucrative league. Moreover, he showed emotional detachment by saying that an India comeback is "not on his mind".
“I am not thinking about India’s comeback. It has been many years since I stopped keeping or making long-term goals, because whenever I did that, it never worked for me. I am happy that I have played 200 matches and taken so many wickets, in the powerplay and at the death," Bhuvneshwar Kumar stated in a video posted by RCB.
"I think it is all a reward for what I have done over the years. There have been good years and bad years. Honestly, at this point in time, I am not feeling anything special. Of course, I would be lying if I said that I will not feel it later on. Once I stop playing, I think these will be memories that will come in handy later. But at this point in time, for me, I think it is very normal," he added.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar reinvent himself at RCB
Bhuvneshwar Kumar recently played his 200th IPL fixture, becoming the first seamer to do so in the tournament. His longevity and skillset are second to none, but his knack for taking wickets has grown multifold since joining RCB.
Ahead of IPL 2025, the experienced pacer was acquired by the Bengaluru-based franchise. At RCB, he was accompanied by Josh Hazlewood and Yash Dayal, and the trio complemented each other so much so that the franchise bagged its maiden title.
Bhuvi finished the last season with 17 wickets in 14 outings, and he has already taken 21 wickets in 11 outings in IPL 2025. He is holding the Purple Cap for the first time since 2017. Moreover, it is the first time in eight years that Bhuvneshwar has crossed the 20-wicket mark for a season.
Also Read: MS Dhoni IPL 2026 Campaign- Ex-CSK Captain Moves A Step Closer To Being Available
