Last Updated: July 26, 2026 11:49 AM
There’s a familiar name doing the rounds in cricket circles again lately. He hasn’t worn the India ODI jersey in years now. Yet somehow, his form keeps forcing people to talk about him. Let’s dig into what’s really going on here right now.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s Chances Look Slim Right Now
Bhuvneshwar hasn’t played an ODI for India since January 2022. Since then, India has been busy blooding younger pacers into the setup. Players like Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, and Harshit Rana have all had chances.
They’ve shown flashes of quality but haven’t quite nailed down consistency yet. India has only won two of five ODI series under Shubman Gill. That patchy record is exactly why Bhuvneshwar’s name keeps resurfacing in talks.
His IPL Form Just Won’t Let This Debate Die
Here’s the thing: Bhuvneshwar has been really good for RCB lately. The franchise rode to back-to-back titles in 2025 and 2026 with him. He took 17 wickets in 2025 while keeping his economy tight.
Then he somehow topped that in 2026, picking up 28 wickets in 16 games. He was also a key cog during India’s 2019 World Cup run. He’s taken 141 wickets in 121 matches across his ODI career overall.
Even Former Players Are Backing His Case
Ravichandran Ashwin came out publicly supporting a fresh chance for Bhuvneshwar recently. He argued that India’s pace lineup still isn’t fully settled yet. Ashwin pointed to Bhuvneshwar’s fitness and his role in RCB’s success.
Ravi Shastri went a step further by naming him in his own projected Cricket World Cup 2027 squad. Still, getting back in won’t be as simple as it sounds.
Why a Comeback Still Looks Unlikely
He hasn’t turned out in a List A match since 2023 at all. He’s also stayed away from Ranji Trophy duty since 2024 entirely. Nearly all his recent cricket has come purely in the T20 format.
Strong T20 numbers alone rarely translate into an automatic ODI recall though. Cricket World Cup 2027 planning clearly leans toward younger fast bowlers instead. Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s chances of forcing his way back in still look genuinely slim.
