Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s last outing for the Indian team came in 2022.
Jaffer’s remark came amidst India’s dismal show in the ongoing UK tour. While the Men in Blue suffered a humiliating 0-2 series defeat to Ireland, they failed to register a victory in four completed games against England.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Jaffer questioned Bhuvneshwar’s absence from the T20I setup despite his stunning exploits in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Bhuvneshwar had a terrific IPL 2026, where he picked 28 wickets and helped RCB win their second straight IPL title. He missed the Purple Cap by one wicket, with Kagiso Rabada pipping him with 29 wickets.
The 36-year-old was exceptional in IPL 2025 as well, taking 17 wickets in RCB’s maiden IPL win.
“As for Bhuvneshwar Kumar, again, I feel, why is he not there? If he can play in the IPL, then why can't he play for India, at least in this format? You can certainly pick him for T20Is. Bhuvi was just one or two wickets away from winning the Purple Cap. So, when he's fit and performing, why isn't he in the team? Naturally, questions will be raised,” Jaffer said.
“And he's fit and playing. I think you can certainly pick him just for T20 cricket because he's a proven performer. He can bowl in all three phases of the innings and can pick up wickets in each of them. So, I'm surprised that Bhuvneshwar Kumar is not part of the team,” he added.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s last outing for the Indian team came in 2022, just after the T20 World Cup that year, and since then, despite very good performances in domestic cricket and showing great fitness as well, Indian selectors have not looked back at the seasoned campaigner, opting for young pacers.
In the same discussion, Wasim Jaffer also threw his weight behind Rajat Patidar, recently etched his name in the history books by leading RCB to back-to-back IPL titles.
During the IPL 2026 season, Patidar also dominated with the bat, amassing 501 runs in 14 innings at a staggering strike rate of 192.69 with five half-centuries. However, he failed to make the cut in India’s T20I squads picked for the UK tour and the upcoming Asian Games.
“I think, based on his performances, he absolutely deserves an opportunity. We've even spoken about his captaincy before. He is a terrific captaincy option as well. A player who has led a franchise to two IPL titles, scored more than 500 runs himself, and done so at an excellent strike rate has clearly proved his credentials,” Jaffer stated.
"He has also delivered in crucial matches, including the Eliminator and the playoffs. His performances and credibility speak for themselves. Everything is there on paper. So, I think he needs to be in the scheme of things. If he isn't, then again, it's very surprising," he remarked.