Bhuvneshwar Kumar last played for India in ODIs in January 2022.
36-year-old Kumar last played for India in 2022 and has played 21 Tests, 121 ODIs, and 87 T20Is. Amidst calls amongst fans and former cricketers for his India team recall, Bhuvneshwar stated that he has come to terms with his life outside of the Indian team and continues to play solely out of passion for the game, adding that a national recall is no longer his main motivation.
He stated that he no longer feels the need to prove himself because he has already realized his aim of serving the nation.
"I'm playing the IPL and domestic cricket because I love the game. When you're young and playing for India, you say you love the game. But honestly, things like 'control the controllables,' 'don't overthink,' or 'play for the passion of the game'—I can actually feel those things now.
I've already played for India. That's not something I have to achieve now. If I get another opportunity, that's great, but I've been there. Everything I'm doing now is because of my love for the game. I know I have to stay disciplined.
I play domestic cricket; I play the UP T20 League. I make sure I play enough cricket to stay in touch, while also giving myself enough breaks to recover and stay refreshed," Bhuvneshwar said on the RCB Podcast.
Kumar also thought back on his life outside of playing international cricket and credited his family for enabling him to move on without feeling regret or resentment.
"I am absolutely at peace, and I give credit to my family. At home, we never talk about cricket. We never talk about whether I'll get back into the Indian team, why I wasn't selected, or what went wrong. That played a big role, and there is no regret. When you're a core member of a team, everyone says, 'The team comes first.' But when you're no longer on the team, naturally you feel, 'Maybe I should still be there.'
I understand that transitions are a part of sport. I understand that generations change. I'm not the first player to experience this, and I certainly won't be the last. That is part of the game. Family plays a big role. I am happy being where I am," he added.
Kumar, who plays with Virat Kohli in RCB, credited him and ex-coach Ravi Shastri for fast bowling evolution in the country.
"The IPL deserves a lot of credit because it exposed so many talented fast bowlers to high-level cricket. You bring them to the setup, and they mature over time. Traditionally, Indian pitches favored spin, while overseas conditions suited fast bowling. But during that period, a lot of credit goes to Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri. They had a clear vision.
I remember we had important overseas tours coming up. Before those tours, even our home Test matches were played on pitches that helped fast bowlers, to prepare us. That showed their vision: they were about building a pace attack. Small decisions like that matter a lot," he noted.
Recalling his early days in Meerut, Bhuvneshwar paid tribute to former India bowler Praveen Kumar, whose playing style deeply influenced his own development.
"We come from the same academy. When I first joined, he was already playing state cricket. By the time I reached the state level, he was playing for India. Our bowling styles were naturally very similar. When I was younger, I was too shy to keep asking him questions. Instead, I observed him. Not just him – my coaches and senior players too. Looking back, I realize how lucky I was. The guidance I received during those years built the strong bowling fundamentals that I still rely on today," he concluded.
(IANS inputs)