At 36, many believed Bhuvneshwar Kumar had quietly moved into the final phase of his cricket career — respected, experienced, but no longer central to conversations around India’s future. Yet IPL 2026 has once again reminded everyone why writing off a bowler of his class can be a costly mistake.
The veteran pacer has been one of the biggest reasons behind Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s dominant run this IPL season. With 28 wickets in 16 matches, Bhuvneshwar has not only led the bowling attack with consistency, but has also delivered under pressure in crucial moments. His performances have played a major role in RCB clinching the IPL title for the second consecutive time.
What has stood out even more than the wickets is the control and calmness with which he has operated. In an era dominated by raw pace and aggressive T20 batting, Bhuvneshwar continues to prove that swing, accuracy and game awareness remain priceless weapons. He may no longer clock express speeds, but few bowlers in the tournament have matched his ability to outthink batters in powerplays and death overs alike.
His standout masterclass came against Mumbai Indians in a high-pressure clash. Bhuvneshwar returned figures of 4 for 23, dismantling the backbone of Mumbai’s batting line-up. He removed dangerous names like Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, shifting the momentum firmly in RCB’s favour. As if that was not enough, he also showed composure with the bat, smashing a crucial six to help seal the victory in the closing stages.
Also read: Bhuvneshwar scores hat-trick in UP, Jharkhand SMAT match
Naturally, such performances have reignited conversations about a possible India comeback. But Bhuvneshwar himself has refused to get carried away by the noise. Rather than speaking about personal milestones or national selection, he has maintained that his focus remains on contributing to the team and staying grounded.
That maturity perhaps reflects why he continues to remain effective even at this stage of his career. He understands conditions, reads batters smartly and rarely loses composure in pressure situations. While younger bowlers bring pace and energy, India’s current white-ball setup has often lacked an experienced swing bowler capable of controlling games with intelligence and precision.
This raises the obvious question: why should Bhuvneshwar Kumar not be in contention for the Indian team? If IPL performances are considered a pathway back into national reckoning for several players, then Bhuvneshwar’s numbers and impact certainly deserve equal attention. He is outperforming several younger Indian pacers this season, remains one of the best death-over bowlers in the league, and continues to show remarkable fitness and discipline.
India may be building for the future, but experience still matters in major tournaments. And on current form, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has done enough to prove that he still belongs in the conversation.
BY JOE WILLIAMS
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