Bhuvneshwar Kumar tipped to make India comeback, end four-year exile after rolling back the years with RCB

Bhuvneshwar Kumar impressed with both bat and ball last evening against Mumbai Indians.

Updated on: May 11, 2026, 16:01:33 IST

Written by Aditya Bhattacharya

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It’s been four years since Bhuvneshwar Kumar last represented India. It came in a very low-key T20I against New Zealand in Napier. It was shortly after India had lost to England in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup in Australia, and as part of the T20I unit’s restructure, Bhuvneshwar was dropped from the squad, never to return. However, if Aakash Chopra is to be believed, it’s time for the veteran India pacer to make a return in T20Is on the back of a strong showing in the ongoing edition of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL). With 21 wickets from 11 matches, Bhuvneshwar is leading the charts and currently holds the Purple Cap.

Will the BCCI trust Bhuvneshwar Kumar one more time? (PTI)

Chopra feels that, given the number of T20Is India plays throughout the year, the opportunity is ripe for the selectors to hand Bhuvneshwar a recall. Against the Mumbai Indians last evening, Bhuvneshwar returned figures of 4/23 – his best this season – including the wickets of Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton and Suryakumar Yadav. Besides starring with the ball, Bhuvneshwar also impressed with the bat, smashing a six that helped RCB get out of jail.

‘Absolutely outstanding’

“Bhuvneshwar Kumar, you have been absolutely outstanding. I am saying a place should be made for him again in the Indian T20I team. He picked up four wickets. He has taken three or more wickets six times this season. Before this, in the 19-year history, only one bowler had taken three wickets six times. That was Harshal Patel in the 2021 season. Bhuvi has already done that here. He is bowling at an economy of less than eight,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

“He even hit a six over cover in the end, and reminds one of Mukul Choudhary. If the selection happens based on performances, and the number of T20Is we are going to play, and it’s being said that you will have to play multiple teams at the same time, then play Bhuvi as well. What’s the point otherwise? There should be some gain from performances, and that can be the only benefit.”

India play 18 T20 internationals this year, but the chances of Bhuvneshwar returning appear slim. Indian cricket has moved on from him, and with the management putting its faith in younger players, the prospect of a 35-year-old playing T20I cricket again isn’t particularly exciting. In 2022, Dinesh Karthik earned a recall to the Indian team after a successful IPL stint, but his return didn't last long.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aditya Bhattacharya
Aditya Bhattacharya is the Sports Editor at Hindustan Times Digital, with close to 15 years of experience in sports journalism. Over the course of his career, he has worked with leading media organisations including Cricbuzz, The Times of India, Network18 and Zee. Primarily a cricket writer, Aditya has covered several marquee events, including the 2016 ICC World T20, the 2019 ICC World Cup in England and the 2023 World Cup in India. His reporting portfolio also includes international cricket across England, South Africa and New Zealand, along with forays into tennis, including coverage of the Australian Open. He has interviewed several prominent athletes across sports. Aditya began his career with a brief stint at CricketNext before getting his first major break at Cricbuzz, where he was part of the Times Network’s startup venture GoCricket, which later merged with Cricbuzz. After nearly 18 months there, he moved to The Times of India, covering his first World Cup assignment and reporting first-hand on landmark moments such as Virat Kohli’s iconic innings against Australia in Mohali. During his three-year tenure, he played a key role in both reporting and desk operations and was recognised as TOI Employee of the Quarter in 2016. He later joined Zee, where he covered the 2019 World Cup across five venues in England—an assignment he considers a career highlight. At Hindustan Times, Aditya’s leadership came to the fore as he was promoted to lead the sports team within 18 months. Under his stewardship, the section has delivered extensive coverage of global sporting events, including the IPL, Olympics, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. In 2024, he was named HT DigiStar of the Year. Aditya continues to adapt to the evolving digital publishing landscape, with a sharp focus on search and audience engagement. Outside work, he occasionally plays the guitar and remains an avid gamer.Read More

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