Bhuvneshwar Kumar with Yuzvendra Chahal (Source: AFP)Veteran India seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned to the national side on Tuesday, nearly four years after his last appearance, for the upcoming five-match T20I series in New Zealand later this month.The 36-year-old Bhuvneshwar, who has played a stellar role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru's back-to-back IPL titles with 17 wickets in the last season, tormented the best in the business with swing and seam movement in powerplay overs.On Jatin Sapru’s YouTube channel, Bhuvneshwar recently mentioned that he has evolved significantly since his early days. He added more pace to his natural swing, which helps him deliver pinpoint accuracy during demanding death overs.Moreover, he said he has stopped actively chasing a national recall, choosing instead to focus on enjoying his cricket and maintaining a quiet, hardworking demeanour.Indeed, a lot has changed since Bhuvneshwar Kumar last played a T20I for India in 2022.When was the last time Bhuvneshwar Kumar played a T20I for India?The seamer played his last T20I game in November 2022, coincidentally against New Zealand. Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s last international T20I game was a draw via the DLS method. The Black Caps won the toss and decided to bat first at McLean Park in Napier.Devon Conway and Glenn Phillips scored half-centuries and guided the hosts to a total of 160 runs. Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj took four wickets each, while Kumar failed to pick any wickets. Later, India scored 75/4 runs in nine overs, and the match ended in a draw.ALSO READRavi Ashwin Opens Bhuvneshwar Kumar's ODI Comeback Route After T20I AnnouncementIndia's Playing XI from the last time Bhuvneshwar Kumar played a T20I: Rishabh Pant (wk), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya (c), Deepak Hooda, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed SirajFurther, in this article, let’s take a look at where India’s playing 11 members are from the last time Bhuvneshwar Kumar played a T20I for India.Hardik PandyaPremium all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been out of the Indian setup for exactly 7 months now due to persistent injuries. He has been inactive in international and domestic cricket since the conclusion of IPL 2026 in late May.Rishabh PantWicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant recently celebrated his 29th birthday while leading the Rest of India team to a 167-run victory over Ranji Trophy champions Jammu and Kashmir to win the 2026 Irani Cup in Srinagar. Ishan KishanExtremely talented Ishan Kishan has not only successfully returned but also cemented his spot in the Indian white-ball set-up with consistent performances.Suryakumar YadavOn the other hand, after being sacked as India’s T20I captain despite leading the team to the T20 World Cup 2026 title, Suryakumar Yadav has suffered another setback.The Mumbai batter has been omitted from Mumbai’s squad for their opening Ranji Trophy fixture against Chandigarh, despite making himself available for the season.Shreyas IyerAfter an initial tough patch as Indian T20I captain, Shreyas Iyer is enjoying a remarkable captaincy resurgence with a 10-match winning streak, capped by a blistering maiden T20I century against West Indies on October 6, 2026.Deepak HoodaOut-of-favour Indian batter Deepak Hooda has returned to domestic cricket with Baroda after spending five years playing for Rajasthan. His career since 2022 has only gone downhill, and he has been out of the setup since 2023.Harshal PatelOnce touted to be the next prominent pacer for India in T20Is, Harshal Patel has been out of the spotlight for a while now. ALSO READSRH Players Who Can Be Released Before IPL 2027 For Fitness IssuesSunrisers Hyderabad retained the right-arm pacer for a hefty ₹8 crores for the IPL 2026. However, Harshal Patel failed to impress. He failed to pick up even a single wicket in 5 games and leaked runs at an economy of 10.82.Yuzvendra ChahalEarlier this month, India leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal announced his retirement from first-class cricket.Chahal, who has represented India in 72 ODIs and 80 T20Is, never got the opportunity to don the Test whites despite a 17-year career in domestic and county cricket. His last international appearance came during a T20I against the West Indies in August 2023.Arshdeep SinghThe last time Bhuvneshwar Kumar played a T20I for India was in 2022; Arshdeep Singh had just entered the national setup, banking on an exceptional run in domestic cricket. However, in 2026, the Punjab pacer has become a firm first-choice regular for India in white-ball formats.Mohammed SirajOnce the backbone of India’s pace attack, Mohammed Siraj’s spot in the national team is under scrutiny, given his fluctuating performances. While he remains an integral part of the ODI and Test teams, his spot in the T20I team has been compromised lately.ALSO READMithali Raj Reacts To Harmanpreet Kaur’s Exit And Smriti Mandhana's Takeover As India Captain
