India pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has once again found himself in the conversation for a return to the national team after an impressive run in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.
The Meerut-born pacer played an important role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) successful title defence in the 19th edition of the IPL. Bhuvneshwar, who last played for India in November 2022, picked up 28 wickets in IPL 2026 and finished just one wicket short of winning the Purple Cap for a record third time. He also maintained an impressive average of 17.89.
His performances have led to renewed calls for his return to India’s T20I setup. However, Bhuvneshwar has often suggested that he is no longer waiting for another opportunity with the national team.
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Does Bhuvneshwar Kumar feel he deserves an India return?
Despite moving away from expectations of an India comeback, Bhuvneshwar admitted that he still feels he deserves a place in the national team.
Speaking on a podcast with Jatin Sapru, the veteran pacer was asked if he believes he deserves to be in the Indian team.
“Of course,” he told Sapru on his YouTube channel. But he reiterated in the next breath: “I’m not playing to prove anything, but I’d be happy to play for India again.”
Bhuvneshwar also made it clear that another omission would not affect him the way it once did.
“I have gone past that time when I used to wait for the next series,” he said.
Why did Bhuvneshwar stop expecting an India call-up?
Bhuvneshwar last represented India in the T20I series against New Zealand in November 2022. It came shortly after India were knocked out by England in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup in Australia.
The pacer initially believed he could make a return to the side after the New Zealand tour. He had received a call from the team and felt that another opportunity could come in the following couple of series.
However, things did not work out as he had expected.
“Till a few series,” he said when asked if he expected to return to the Indian side after the New Zealand tour. “Because I had received a call. What they said, based on that I felt maybe 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,” he added.
Did Bhuvneshwar know the 2022 World Cup was his last?
Bhuvneshwar also revealed that he had a feeling during the 2022 T20 World Cup that he might have already played his final World Cup for India.
India’s campaign ended with a 10-wicket defeat against England in the semi-final in Adelaide. After returning to his hotel room following the loss, Bhuvneshwar told his wife, Nupur, that he believed it was his last World Cup.
“In Adelaide it happened. I came to my room and told my wife. I told this from my experience. In the dressing room, everyone was disappointed. There were a few briefs before we left. But when I came back to my room I told Nupur this was my last World Cup. Because what I have seen from my experience, when you lose a tournament like this selectors want to look ahead, and that is fair,” he said.