Bhuvneshwar Kumar played a huge role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL 2026 win. He played all the matches and picked 28 wickets as Rajat Patidar-led RCB successfully defended their IPL title, defeating Gujarat Titans (GT) in the final.
Calls for the veteran pacer's inclusion in the Indian team gained momentum after he finished the season as the second-highest wicket-taker and surprised everyone with his bowling in the lucrative tournament earlier this year.
Nevertheless, he was not called up for either of the two ODI or three T20I series that India played after the league ended. Bhuvneshwar Kumar last played for India in 2022, including the T20 World Cup that year.
Fans, analysts, and previous greats have been urging Bhuvneshwar to return despite his ongoing absence from India's white-ball teams. The 36-year-old Meerut fast bowler, who made his India debut in a T20I against Pakistan in December 2012, also said in a recent video that he would like to play for the nation once more.
Everyone wants to see Bhuvneshwar return to Team India, according to an Instagram video that has gone viral. In a video shared by 2sloggers on Instagram, Bhuvneshwar was told that everyone wants to see him make a comeback to Team India. In response, the star pacer said, “Mann toh mera bhi hai (I want to as well)".
The anchor went on to say that Bhuvneshwar is collecting four wickets in one game in the UPT20 League and that it would be fantastic if he could do similarly while wearing the India jersey.
Bhuvneshwar replied, “Ho jayega toh achhi hai (It will be good if that happens)".
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the only pacer in the 200-wicket club in the IPL and, since joining RCB in IPL 2025, has taken 45 wickets in 30 matches.
He recently played for Lucknow Falcons in the UPT20 League and picked up 14 wickets in 11 games, including the best bowling of 4/10.
