Former cricketer Suresh Raina has made a case for the recall of experienced seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar to the Indian team.
Bhuvneshwar served as a vital architect in RCB’s historic back-to-back IPL championship campaigns. In the 2026 season, he was phenomenal, picking up 28 wickets and finishing with the best economy rate among the top five wicket-takers.
However, Bhuvneshwar failed to make the cut in India’s T20I squad for the tours of Ireland, England and Zimbabwe. He has also been ignored for the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan and the 2026 Asian Games.
“Bilkul. Aur ye aisa saal raha hai, back-to-back IPL trophy, fir final mein (in UPT20). Bhuvi ka class alag hai. Over the years jis tareh se unhone apne game ko ek alag important daur mei le gaye hai chahe fir vo gendbaazi ho ya fir mental toughness ki baat ho. Jitni bhi baat usse hui hai. Bhuvi I think he has been legend in this format (T20s) and I wish… selectors agar dekh rahe hai toh he deserves to be in Indian team right now (Absolutely. It has been a year like this, with back-to-back IPL trophies and then reaching the final in the UPT20 as well. Bhuvi is in a class of his own. Over the years, the way he has taken his game to a different level, whether it is his bowling or his mental toughness, has been remarkable. Whatever conversations I have had with him, I feel Bhuvi has been a legend in this format (T20s), and I wish… if the selectors are watching, he deserves to be in the Indian team right now)," Raina said during the UP T20 League final on Sunday (September 6).
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has represented India in 21 Tests, 121 ODIs, and 87 T20Is so far, claiming 294 wickets across formats. While his last Test appearance was in January 2018, he hasn’t turned up for India in ODIs and T20Is since 2022.
Bhuvneshwar represented Lucknow Falcons in the just-concluded UPT20 League. Despite doing well in franchise cricket, the 36-year-old is not actively chasing a spot in the Indian squad, emphasizing that playing cricket remains his core passion regardless of the team.
“Why would I say no if I get a call? Absolutely ready,” Bhuvneshwar told Aaj Tak last month when asked about his possible return to the national side for 2027 World Cup.
“Honestly, I cannot say exactly how ready I am. My job is to play cricket and that is why I have come here to play in the UP T20 league. I didn’t come here with the intention of moving to another place or reaching another level,” he added.
“We play IPL knowing we have to perform and win matches for the team, but I didn’t come here to the UP T20 league hoping to get picked elsewhere or because someone said something. How prepared I am is not for me to decide; the rest is the selectors’ call,” he remarked.
