Bhuvneshwar has been picked in India's T20I squad for the upcoming New Zealand tour.
The BCCI Men’s Selection Committee on Tuesday (October 6) announced India’s 16-member squad for the upcoming five-T20I series against New Zealand, starting October 22 in Christchurch.
Veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s comeback to the national fold after nearly four years headlined the squad. His last appearance for India was in November 2022.
Bhuvneshwar, 36, was rewarded for his brilliance in the IPL over the last two seasons, serving as a vital architect in RCB’s historic back-to-back championship campaigns. While the right-arm seamer claimed 17 wickets in 2025, he was phenomenal this year, picking up 28 scalps and finishing with the best economy rate among the top five wicket-takers.
Following his selection, a report published in PTI claimed that Ajit Agarkar’s exit from the selection panel paved the way for Bhuvneshwar’s return to the Indian team.
When Ajit Agarkar became the chairman of selectors in 2023, he focused strictly on looking to the future, which blocked Bhuvneshwar Kumar's immediate return to the national setup despite public expectations.
According to the report, RP Singh, a selection panel colleague who had previously shared the new ball with Bhuvneshwar and hailed from Rae Bareli, strongly advocated for the latter’s comeback. However, RP found little support for this move while Agarkar was in charge.
Once Agarkar left his post, the opposition eased, and Bhuvneshwar finally made his well-deserved return to the team.
Throughout the period he was dropped, Bhuvneshwar Kumar maintained a quiet demeanour and an admirable work ethic. Instead of complaining or playing the victim, he silently worked on his skills and served as a shining light and mentor for young bowlers while playing white-ball cricket for Uttar Pradesh.
(With PTI Inputs)