IPL 2026: 'Bhuvneshwar Kumar should be back in India colours'- Ex-India cricketer urges selectors for recall
Bhuvneshwar Kumar's stellar IPL 2026 form, leading the Purple Cap race with 21 wickets at an impressive average, has reignited calls for his India T20I return. The 36-year-old's consistent match-winning spells and economical bowling, highlighted by a 4/23 against Mumbai Indians, have caught the attention of experts like Aakash Chopra, pushing selectors to reconsider his international future.
It has been four years since Bhuvneshwar Kumar last played for India in a T20I, a quiet outing against New Zealand in Napier that came soon after India’s semi-final exit in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia. Following that tournament, he was phased out during India’s transition in the shortest format and has not featured since. However, his performances in IPL 2026 have reopened the debate about an international return.
Now leading the Purple Cap race, Bhuvneshwar has taken 21 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 15. 28 and an economy rate of 7. 46, underlining a remarkable resurgence at the age of 36.
His most recent standout performance came against Mumbai Indians, where he produced a match-winning spell of 4/23, dismissing key batters including Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton and Suryakumar Yadav. He also contributed with the bat, hitting a crucial six that helped his team recover in a tense phase of the innings. Former cricketer Aakash Chopra has strongly backed a recall, pointing to both form and consistency.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said, “Bhuvneshwar Kumar, you have been absolutely outstanding. I am saying a place should be made for him again in the Indian T20I team. He picked up four wickets.