Veteran seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has rolled back the clock and left batters mesmerized with the ball in his hand. The 36-year-old pacer has stormed to the top of the wicket-taking charts in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.
In the Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Mumbai Indians game, Kumar took 4/23 to bag the player of the match award. Not to be outdone, RCB veteran did the star turn with the bat, hitting a crucial six to help his team win the game by two wickets. His bowling has prompted many fans and experts to call for his return to the national side.
The defending champions posted a video where the pacer was asked about his ambitions to play for India once again. To which he replied, “Not thinking about a return to the Indian side. It’s been a few years since I even made long-term goals, because it never worked out in my favour.”
IPL veteran still going strong
This season, with 21 wickets to his name, Bhuvneshwar has easily been the best bowler of the tournament. At the age of 36, the swing with the new ball and also his accuracy and efficiency in the death overs haven’t left him. On Sunday, the pacer dismissed Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav off successive balls to hand his team a massive advantage.
Further speaking to RCB, the player said, “Have played over 200 games and taken many wickets in different phases of the game. These are rewards for all the hard work that was put in over the last few years. There are good and bad times, but right now I’m not feeling anything special.”
When did Bhuvi last play for India
It has been over three and a half years since the veteran star played for the national side. The final game for Kumar was during the 2022 tour of New Zealand, where he went wicketless during the third game of the series in Napier.
With the Men in Blue set to host Afghanistan and also embark on a tour of Ireland and England, the selectors may be keeping a close eye. The likes of Mohammed SirajJasprit Bumrah, and even Arshdeep Singh could be rested for a few games. This could give the pacer from Uttar Pradesh a chance to realize his dream of playing international cricket again.
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