Bhuvneshwar Kumar during 2022 T20 World Cup | Source- AFP
Team India is preparing for the 2027 World Cup, under the leadership of Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir. As the mega-event is now in touching distance, the Men in Blue are zeroing in on their core players.
With younger players, especially the fast bowlers, suffering untimely injuries, it opens the door for the evergreen Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
The 36-year-old swing bowler has been in top form in the IPL, featuring for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who bagged back-to-back titles. Quite recently in IPL 2026, he bagged 28 wickets, which put his name in the talks for an Indian comeback.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is "absolutely ready" for 2027 WC
Although Bhuvneshwar Kumar has always been conservative about his India comeback, the veteran seamer has stated that "he is absolutely ready" when asked about his plans for the 2027 World Cup.
“Why would I say no if I get a call? Absolutely ready,” Bhuvneshwar Kumar said during an interview for the Uttar Pradesh T20 League 2026.
“Honestly, I cannot say exactly how ready I am. My job is to play cricket and that is why I have come here to play in the UP T20 league. I didn’t come here with the intention of moving to another place or reaching another level,” he added.
Also Read: Sarfaraz Khan Drops 1st Reaction After Making India Comeback For Sri Lanka Tour
“We play IPL knowing we have to perform and win matches for the team, but I didn’t come here to the UP T20 league hoping to get picked elsewhere or because someone said something. How prepared I am is not for me to decide; the rest is the selectors’ call.”
How realistic are Bhuvneshwar Kumar's chances to play 2027 World Cup?
Once one of the white-ball giants, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has played two 50-over World Cups for India, where he did decently well while being an integral part of the fast-bowling unit.
Bhuvneshwar last played for India during the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, while his last ODI dates back to January that year. Since then, he has been out of the scheme of things, with the national selectors giving chances to the likes of Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Prasidh Krishna and Arshdeep Singh across formats.
That said, the swing master doesn't have a lot of cricket under his belt in the last couple of years. He last played the Ranji Trophy or the Vijay Hazare Trophy back in 2024, and since then, he has only featured in the IPL or the UP T20 League.
There is very little chances for Bhuvneshwar Kumar to make an India comeback before the ODI World Cup 2027.
But, for an India comeback, Bhuvneshwar would need to prove his match fitness by playing in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy 2026/27, but the tournament won't begin before December this year.
Which seamer could miss World Cup berth if Bhuvneshwar returns?
The Indian team management, in recent years, has banked more on seam bowlers rather than pacers who rely more on swing, which has also been the case for all top teams across the globe. This puts Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s case behind as far as an Indian comeback is concerned.
However, if he had to replace anyone in the current Indian team composition. Bhuvneshwar can’t replace Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, who are simply untouchable in terms of their pedigree. Whereas the Indian team management has plenty of confidence in Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana.
It only leaves Arshdeep Singh and Gurnoor Brar, who can easily be left out for the swing master. However, the left-arm seamer might get a nod ahead for his difficult angle, while Brar would attract a tad extra bounce in the South African conditions due to his height of 6.4 feet.
That said, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has a below-par record in ODIs played in South Africa, taking only two wickets in 8 matches.
Also Read: Who Is Sanvir Singh, Most Expensive Player Ahead Of Gill, Abhishek In Sher-e-Punjab T20 Auction?
