Bhuvneshwar Kumar celebrating a wicket with old teammates (Source: AFP)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is set for a possible return to India’s T20I setup in Bengaluru, the same city where his international journey in the shortest format began. He was added to India’s squad for the fifth T20I against West Indies on October 17, 2026, following Arshdeep Singh’s shoulder injury.
Bhuvneshwar made his T20I debut against Pakistan at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on December 25, 2012. He claimed three wickets for nine runs, although India lost the match by five wickets.
India’s Playing XI From Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s T20I Debut
Gautam Gambhir, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (captain and wicketkeeper), Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Ashok Dinda
Since 2012, his teammates have taken different paths, from coaching and commentary to politics and franchise cricket. While several have retired internationally, Kohli, Rohit and Jadeja remain active in India’s ODI or Test setups.
Here’s where the players from that Indian XI are now.
1. Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir scored 43 runs off 41 balls in Bhuvneshwar’s T20I debut match. He has since transitioned from playing to coaching and is currently India’s head coach.
If Bhuvi makes his much-anticipated return to India’s playing XI for the 5th IND vs WI T20I in Bengaluru, he won’t have Gambhir as a teammate, but as his coach.
2. Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane scored 42 off 31 balls against Pakistan, opening alongside Gambhir. He retired from international cricket in 2026 and has since explored opportunities in commentary and franchise cricket. His experience across international cricket and the IPL continues to keep him involved in the sport.
3. Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli scored nine runs in the 2012 match. Since then, he has become one of India’s greatest batters. Having retired from T20Is and Test cricket, Kohli continues to represent India in ODIs. He also shares the Royal Challengers Bengaluru dressing room with Bhuvneshwar in the IPL.
4. Yuvraj Singh
Yuvraj Singh scored 10 runs against Pakistan before being dismissed by Umar Gul. After retiring from international cricket, he mentored young Indian batters, including Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill.
Very recently, he has been appointed Delhi Capitals’ batting coach ahead of IPL 2027, beginning a new chapter in his cricket career.
5. MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni captained India in Bhuvneshwar’s debut but scored just one run. He retired from international cricket in 2020 and continues to be associated with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. Dhoni remains one of the most recognisable figures in franchise cricket and a central part of CSK’s identity.
6. Suresh Raina
Suresh Raina scored 10 runs against Pakistan in the 2012 T20I. After retiring from international cricket, he moved into commentary and remains involved in legends cricket, including Legends League Cricket.
Raina continues to stay connected to the sport through broadcasting and appearances in veteran-player competitions.
7. Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma scored two runs in the 2012 match. He has since become one of India’s most successful white-ball batters.
Rohit has also retired from T20Is and Test cricket but continues to play ODIs. In the IPL, he remains associated with Mumbai Indians and has featured as an Impact Player.
8. Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja scored two runs and went wicketless in the 2012 match. He later established himself as one of India’s leading all-rounders.
Jadeja remains part of India’s Test and ODI setups and represents Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, bringing considerable experience with both bat and ball.
9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuvneshwar made an immediate impact on his T20I debut, taking three wickets for nine runs against Pakistan.
After his last international appearance in 2022, he has earned a recall to India’s squad for the fifth T20I against West Indies. A return in Bengaluru would bring his international journey full circle.
10. Ishant Sharma
Ishant Sharma took one wicket for 23 runs in the 2012 match. A key member of India’s Test attack for years, he has not represented India in any format since 2021, although he has not formally retired from international cricket. He played for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026.
11. Ashok Dinda
Ashok Dinda took one wicket for 26 runs in Bhuvneshwar’s T20I debut. He quit professional cricket in 2021 and subsequently entered politics.
Dinda is now a Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Textiles (MSMEs) in the West Bengal government, having moved from the cricket field into public service.
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