Bhuvneshwar Kumarhas been a vital cog for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) during their title wins in IPL 2025 and 2026. While he played the supporting role to Josh Hazlewood last year, in IPL 2026, he was the wrecker-in-chief. However, the stellar performances haven't been able to earn him a recall to the Indian team.
When the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee announced India's squad for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England and the subsequent Asian Games, there was no sign
of Bhuvneshwar. Picking up 17 wickets in IPL 2025 and following up with 28 wickets this season didn't prove to be enough for the right-arm seamer. Even when Mohammed Siraj was rested for the Ireland series, Prasidh Krishna was named as his replacement and not Bhuvneshwar.
However, the 36-year-old recently said in an interview that he isn't too perturbed after being overlooked, as it is the selectors' call to decide which bowlers can serve India the best.
“It’s my nature that I don’t want to show that I want to play. I think everyone is doing their job. Selectors are doing their job. I’m doing my job. It’s their responsibility to select. If they think I’m good enough, they will do their job," Bhuvneshwar told The Indian Express.
Bhuvneshwar mentioned that having played for India in the past is an achievement he holds very close to his heart.
“I have played, I have done what I had to do. If I hadn’t played, I would have been dying to be asked to play a match. I think it’s a big thing to play for India, I won’t say it’s a small thing, I’m one of the lucky ones that I have played," the Uttar Pradesh seamer stated.
Bhuvneshwar, who finished second on the list of leading wicket-takers in IPL 2026, played 21 Tests, 121 ODIs, and 87 T20Is, picking up 63, 141, and 90 wickets, respectively.
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