New Delhi, August 10, 2026: Veteran India pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has said he intends to continue playing cricket while leaving any possibility of a return to the national side entirely to the selectors.
The 36-year-old right-arm seamer last represented India in an ODI in January 2022, while his most recent Test appearance came in 2018. With the 2027 ODI World Cup approaching, speculation has grown over whether experienced players could force their way back into the national setup.
Bhuvneshwar, however, said his focus remains on playing cricket rather than seeking selection.
“I haven’t come to play in the UPT20 League because I want to get picked somewhere or move to another level. I’m playing simply because I want to play,” he said.
The pacer also stressed that determining whether he is ready for international cricket is a decision for the selectors rather than himself.
“How prepared I am is not for me to decide; the rest is the selectors’ call,” he added.
Bhuvneshwar’s comments follow an impressive IPL 2026 campaign with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), during which he claimed 28 wickets and finished second in the tournament’s wicket-taking charts, one wicket behind the Purple Cap winner.
He also reached the milestone of 200 IPL wickets and played a key role in RCB’s title-winning campaign, as the Bengaluru side defeated Gujarat Titans in the final on May 31.
Despite his strong performances, Bhuvneshwar has remained cautious when discussing a potential international comeback. Rather than campaigning for selection or ruling out a return, he has repeatedly maintained that the decision rests with the selectors.
“As for what the senior and veteran players are saying, that’s their opinion. For me, I enjoy playing and I love cricket. My job is only to play, and I’m here for the UPT20 League. How prepared I am is not for me to decide; the rest is the selectors’ call,” he said.
The veteran seamer reiterated that his immediate priority was to perform on the field rather than assess his own international readiness.
“I’m here to play, and that’s what I’m doing. My job is to play cricket; judging how prepared I am isn’t something that I focus on,” he said.
His performances in IPL 2026 have nevertheless kept him in the wider selection discussion. His 28 wickets for RCB demonstrated that he remains capable of making an impact at the highest level of franchise cricket.
Whether that form will be enough to earn him a place in India’s plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup remains uncertain, with Bhuvneshwar content to leave the decision to the selectors.
He was similarly non-committal when asked about a possible return to first-class cricket, saying there was still considerable time before the 2027 World Cup.
“There’s still plenty of time, and a lot of cricket to be played before that. I can’t say right now whether I’ll play first-class cricket or not, but my aim is to keep playing as much cricket as I can,” he said.
Bhuvneshwar’s continued involvement in domestic and franchise cricket, including the UPT20 League, underlines his desire to remain active and contribute to the sport.
The experienced pacer also highlighted efforts by the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) to identify and develop young fast-bowling talent through its speed-hunt initiative.
“First-class cricket is a big season. Many fast bowlers got injured, and the lack of bowlers was visible. Through the speed hunt, we have found a bunch of pace bowlers from across the state,” he said.
He noted that several of the players identified through the programme featured in the UPT20 League, with one emerging as the highest-paid uncapped player in the mini-auction.
“Through this initiative, UPCA will nurture young pace talent. It will help in the domestic season,” Bhuvneshwar added.
