Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has strongly backed Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a return to India’s T20I squad after the veteran pacer delivered a sensational performance in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s
(RCB) thrilling win over Mumbai Indians (MI) in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL).
Bhuvneshwar played a decisive role in RCB’s dramatic two-wicket victory in Raipur, producing outstanding figures of 4/23 before later contributing a vital six in a tense final over of the chase. His all-round display earned widespread praise, with Ashwin insisting the experienced seamer still has plenty to offer Indian cricket in the shortest format.
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Bhuvi Back?
“Hashtag ‘BringBackBhuvi’. I’d love to see him being considered for the T20I side. Tick with the new ball, able to complete the death overs nicely, and if you need a six under pressure, he’s hammering that as well in the toughest part of the ground,” Ashwin was quoted as saying on JioStar.
The veteran quick ripped through Mumbai’s top order in a fiery opening spell, dismissing Ryan Rickelton, Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav on a challenging surface that offered movement and uneven bounce. Ashwin particularly admired how Bhuvneshwar quickly adapted to the conditions and bowled with precision.
“That was proper Test-match bowling after he realised there was something in the surface. He keeps testing you as an opening batter. To dismiss Rohit Sharma with that peach, a slower ball that just swung, was quite incredible,” Ashwin observed.
Ashwin also praised Bhuvneshwar’s discipline at the death, highlighting the seamer’s willingness to prioritise execution over personal milestones.
“And later on, he was selfless enough to execute the yorker when he could have gone for a fourth wicket. Extremely happy for him,” he added.
Praise For Krunal
The former off-spinner reserved special appreciation for Krunal Pandya as well, whose composed 73 under pressure kept RCB alive after an early collapse in the chase.
“With Krunal Pandya — we know HR managers and project managers, but that was proper ‘pressure management’. If you need one, please dial K for Krunal Pandya,” Ashwin remarked.
Ashwin also felt RCB are well placed despite a few concerns surrounding Romario Shepherd’s inconsistency. However, he advised the defending champions to remain patient with the all-rounder, believing his match-winning potential could still prove valuable later in the tournament.
(With inputs from Agencies)
