‘This was my last World Cup’: Bhuvneshwar Kumar reveals why India’s comeback hopes have faded

After two impressive IPL seasons with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has once again found himself at the center of conversations around the Indian team.The veteran pacer has not played for India since November 2022, but his performances in RCB’s back-to-back IPL winning campaigns have revived calls for his return. Bhuvneshwar took 17 wickets in IPL 2025 before producing an even better campaign in 2026, claiming 28 wickets at an average of 17.89. He finished just one wicket short of winning the Purple Cap for a record third time.The 36-year-old has repeatedly downplayed expectations of India’s withdrawal. However, Bhuvneshwar admitted in an interview with Jatin Sapru on his YouTube channel that he feels he deserves another chance in the national team.“Of course,” said Sapru.But the pacer was quick to point out that India’s comeback is not the only motivation for his cricket.“I’m not playing to prove anything but I would like to play for India again.

Bhuvneshwar is no longer waiting for India’s challenge

Bhuvneshwar, who last represented India in the T20I series in New Zealand in November 2022, said he had reached a stage where another omission would no longer affect him.“I’m past the point of waiting for another series,” he said.After the tour of New Zealand, the pacer initially believed that the selectors might bring him back into the side. He received a call from team management and interpreted it as a possible indication that he would be counted on for the next two series.However, this expectation was not fulfilled.“For a few series,” he said when asked if he expected to return to the Indian side after the New Zealand tour. “Because they called me. From what they said, I felt maybe two more series. But then I realized that’s not what they said.”“It wasn’t hurtful because then I knew what was going on and accepted it. It wasn’t easy, but the family played a big role,” he added.

Bhuvneshwar knew that the 2022 World Cup could be his last

Bhuvneshwar also revealed that he already felt his World Cup career in India might be over after the team’s semi-final defeat to England in Adelaide at the 2022 T20 World Cup.After returning to his room after the loss, he called his wife Nupur and told her that he believed it was his last World Cup for India.“It happened in Adelaide. I came to my room and told my wife. I told it from my experience. Everyone was disappointed in the dressing room. There were a few slips before we left. But when I went back to my room, I told Nupur that this is my last World Cup. Because what I’ve seen from my experience, when you lose a tournament like this, the selectors want to look ahead and that’s fair,” he said.Bhuvneshwar’s last appearance for India came in Napier in November 2022, shortly after the team’s semi-final exit from the T20 World Cup in Australia. While he initially hoped for another chance, he eventually accepted that the selectors were looking at another cycle.However, his recent IPL form has put his name back into the conversation for India’s T20I setup.

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