The Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has finally made his return to the national team, after remaining away from India’s T20I setup for nearly four years. The experienced right-arm pacer from Meerut has been named in India’s 16-member T20I squad for the upcoming three-match series against New Zealand.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has played for India in all three formats, last represented the country in a T20I against New Zealand in November 2022. His return comes after an impressive campaign in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL).
Soon after his selection was announced, Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s wife Nupur Nagar shared her reaction on Instagram. A couple of hours after the squad announcement, she reposted the BCCI’s post revealing India’s team and added a sticker that read ‘Gratidão’, expressing gratitude. Her post quickly caught the attention of fans and went viral on social media.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar earned his T20I recall largely because of his outstanding bowling performance in the IPL 2026. He featured in all 16 matches for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and claimed 28 wickets, finishing as the second highest wicket-taker of the tournament. The veteran pacer has long been regarded as one of the finest T20 bowlers. He also holds a unique IPL record as the only fast bowler to have taken more than 200 wickets in the cash-rich league.
With Jasprit Bumrah rested for the New Zealand T20Is, Bhuvneshwar Kumar could have an important role to play in the pace attack. He is expected to lead the fast-bowling unit alongside Arshdeep Singh in Shreyas Iyer-led Indian side.
His T20I comeback has also raised questions about his future in ODI cricket. It remains to be seen whether the selectors will consider Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the upcoming five-match ODI series against New Zealand. Reports have suggested that Bhuvneshwar is part of the BCCI’s plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup and could be considered for the ODI series next month. The BCCI is expected to announce India’s ODI and Test squads for the New Zealand tour in the coming days.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar last played an ODI for India in January 2022 against South Africa in Paarl. His most recent List A appearance came for Uttar Pradesh against Andhra Pradesh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Chandigarh on December 3, 2023.
Congratulations Bhuvneshwar Kumar!
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