Veteran India pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar spoke candidly about navigating a four-year absence from international cricket.
Speaking in a video shared by the BCCI on social media, the 36-year-old explained that his time away taught him patience, maturity, and the importance of staying in the present rather than actively obsessing over a comeback.
Earlier this month, Bhuvneshwar was recalled to the Indian squad as a replacement player during the T20I series against the West Indies and the subsequent tour of New Zealand.
Bhuvneshwar’s preparation never suffered despite being away from the national setup for so long as his mantra was having no expectations from himself and focusing on the work at hand.
"The headspace I am in is very simple. I have no expectations of myself. I think that's how things worked out for me in the last 3-4 years. No expectations; just keep doing your work. Generally, we talk about being present; we don't think about the future. I think that's the headspace I am in right now. And that has happened in the last 3-4 years," Bhuvneshwar said.
"I know I didn't play for the country. But the things I did and the maturity that came in me as a person. I think that's what it taught me: just be in the present. Four years, I never chased this Indian jersey. So honestly, I didn't even know when those four years would come. I think it evolved big time, and I think IPL has a big role in that," he added.
Bhuvneshwar credited his thorough preparation during domestic matches and the Indian Premier League (IPL) for keeping him sharp and enabling his national comeback.
"The last two IPLs were like when I went to IPL; there were zero expectations. I had zero expectations from myself either. But it wasn't like I didn't prepare. I did all the preparation needed. From fitness to skills and mental aspects, I did all that. But yes, there was zero expectation as to what I would do," he stated.
"Of course, I had to contribute for the team. But I never thought that I would go to the IPL like this. That I would get two IPL titles in two years."
Bhuvneshwar Kumar served as a vital architect in RCB’s historic back-to-back IPL 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.
