Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been the renaissance man of the IPL 2026 season, with Kris Srikkanth and R Ashwin urging the Indian team management to bring back the veteran pacer. Bhuvneshwar was one of the stars of the show in the Raipur thriller between RCB and MI as he picked up four wickets and hit six in the final close the deal.
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Bhuvneshwar has 21 wickets from 11 matches this season at an average of 15.29 and an economy rate of 7.47. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth claimed that the 36-year-old ended the game in his second match where he took the wickets of Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav off consecutive deliveries.
The former selector said that Bhuvneshwar should be back in India colours.
“If you watched Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s bowling, wow, wow, wow. Vintage Bhuvi. He finished the game in the second over. He got Rickleton in the first over. Then, in the second, he used the knee ball to dismiss Rohit Sharma. He got Suryakumar Yadav for a duck with a beauty. That killed the game.”
“I am telling you. Bhuvneshwar Kumar should come back and play for India,” Srikkanth said.
Bhuvneshwar last played a match for India in November 2022. Speaking to JioStar, Ashwin said it has been a pacer’s tournament so far and said the RCB star has put in hard yards in terms of fitness and playing T20s on the home circuit to keep up with the modern game.
“It was Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s day. It was his tournament. If your timing is right, nobody can stop you. He would take both (both six and four wickets). He’s a lovely guy. I’m so happy for him. He’s done all the hard yards. He’s played every single T20 game available to him. He’s worked incredibly hard on his fitness. Your team,” Ashwin said.
Ashwin said he is waiting for #BringBackBhuvi to start trending and would like the pacer to be considered for the Indian team.
“#BringBackBhuvi. We’ll wait for that. I’d like to see him being considered. As a tick with the new ball, he’s able to consistently bounce into the death overs. If you need him, he’s capable of hitting a six under pressure. I’m extremely happy for him,” Ashwin said.
“BHUVI ONE OF INDIA’S BEST”
One of the notable features of Bhuvneshwar’s revival this season has been how he has shot through all three phases with the ball. The RCB star maintained an economy of 7.00 in the over, 8.42 in the middle overs and 7.83 at the death. He shares the best economy rate with Lucknow Super Giants’ Mohsin Khan among bowlers who have delivered at least 50 balls in the power play. Using the same minimum ball measure, he was also the most economical bowler in the death overs.
This caused Krunal Pandya to name Bhuvneshwar as one of the best bowlers produced in the country and hailed him as a master player.
“He’s one of the best bowlers India has ever produced, isn’t he? He’s played so many years in all three formats. To play about 200 matches in the IPL and still maintain an economy of 7 is incredible. And it’s not like he’s only bowled in the medium overs – he plays a power game that’s very tough and he beats the death that’s even tougher.”
“And the way he conducts himself consistently year after year – he comes in quietly, does his job and leaves. So he’s a master bowler, there’s no doubt about that,” Krunal said at the post-match press conference.
RCB will next face KKR in Raipur on May 13.
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Published on:
May 11, 2026 09:43 IST
