- By Sports desk
- Mon, 11 May 2026 02:42 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Indian cricketing legend Ravichandran Ashwin backed Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a comeback to India’s T20I team after the experienced pacer starred in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) thrilling win over the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the 2026 IPL.
Ashwin backed Bhuvneshwar Kumar's comeback in India's T20I setup
Bhuvneshwar was the hero in RCB’s dramatic two-wicket victory in Raipur. He first impressed with the ball, taking 4 wickets for 23 runs, and then added to the excitement by smashing an important six in the final over during the chase. His brilliant all-round effort earned praise from many, including Ashwin, who believes the veteran still has a big role to play in India’s T20 setup.
“#BringBackBhuvi. I would really like to see him back in the T20I squad. He is excellent with the new ball, can handle the death overs well, and even under pressure, he can clear the boundary when needed,” Ashwin said on JioStar.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar choked MI's batting
Bhuvneshwar made an early impact by removing Ryan Rickelton, Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav on a difficult pitch that offered movement and uneven bounce. Ashwin was especially impressed with how quickly the pacer understood the conditions and adjusted his bowling.
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“That was proper Test-match style bowling once he realised the pitch had something for the bowlers. As an opening batter, he keeps challenging you all the time. The slower ball that got Rohit Sharma out was simply outstanding,” Ashwin said.
Ashwin also appreciated Bhuvneshwar’s calm approach in the death overs, saying the pacer focused more on helping the team than chasing personal records.
“He was selfless enough to stick to his yorkers instead of going for another wicket. I’m really happy for him,” Ashwin added.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar's international career
Bhuvneshwar Kumar represented India in 21 Tests, 121 ODIs and 87 T20Is, where he picked up 63, 141 and 90 wickets respectively. The Meerut-born pacer's last international outing came against New Zealand in a T20I match on November 22, 2022, under Hardik Pandya's captaincy.