‘I’d be happy to play for India again’ – Bhuvneshwar Kumar eyes national comeback

Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Photo by Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has signalled his openness to a return to international cricket after an extended absence from the national team. The RCB pacer, who has been a consistent performer in the Indian Premier League over the past two seasons, expressed his desire to represent India once more despite being outside the current selection frame.

The 36-year-old bowler, who has represented India across 229 matches in all formats and claimed 294 wickets at an average of 29.50, including seven five-wicket hauls, reflected on his current mindset regarding international cricket.

“I’m not playing to prove anything, but I’d be happy to play for India again. I have gone past that time when I used to wait for the next series,” Kumar said on Jatin Sapru’s YouTube channel.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s willingness to return to international cricket

Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s last appearance for India came in the T20I format in November 2022 in Napier, following India’s T20 World Cup semifinal exit in Australia. Since then, he has focused on his domestic and franchise cricket commitments, establishing himself as a key player in the IPL.

Over the past two seasons, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has delivered strong performances in the Indian Premier League. He claimed 17 wickets for RCB during IPL 2025, contributing to the franchise’s first IPL title victory. In IPL 2026, he finished with 28 wickets at an average of 17.89, narrowly missing out on winning the Purple Cap for a record third time.

Reflecting on his journey away from the national team, Bhuvneshwar opened up about the communication he received regarding his selection prospects. He explained that he had received a call from the selection committee and based on their conversation, he initially expected a recall within the next two series. However, his expectations did not materialise as he had anticipated.

“Till a few series. Because I had received a call. What they said, based on that, I felt maybe the next two series. But then I realised it’s not what they said. It wasn’t hurtful, because then I knew what was happening, and I made peace with it. It wasn’t easy, but family played a big role,” Bhuvneshwar said.

The pacer’s statement reflects a mature approach to his international career, acknowledging the reality of selection dynamics while maintaining his readiness to contribute to the national team if given the opportunity. His consistent performances in the IPL demonstrate that he remains a capable bowler at the highest level of franchise cricket.

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