RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesBhuvneshwar Kumar breaks silence on India comeback after R Ashwin backs him for 2027 ODI World Cup originally appeared on Cricket News .
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KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Bhuvneshwar Kumar says he has made peace with life outside the India team.
The comments follow Ravichandran Ashwin backing him for the 2027 World Cup.
The 36-year-old insists he now plays purely for the love of the game.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar breaks silence on India comeback after Ashwin backs him for World Cup
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has broken his silence on the growing clamour for an India recall, striking a notably measured tone even as pundits push his case for the 2027 ODI World Cup. The veteran seamer, whose stellar IPL 2026 campaign reignited the debate, insists he has made peace with his life away from the national team.
His remarks come days after Ravichandran Ashwin publicly backed him for a place in India's World Cup plans. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said , "Bhuvneshwar Kumar is a yes. I would tell him to do all the tournaments - first class, the Vijay Hazare - everything. And get him ready for South Africa. I think we would require him there."
Yet Bhuvneshwar, who last played for India in 2022, made clear that another cap is no longer the force driving his career. The right-armer credited his home environment for helping him move on without bitterness, having been a mainstay of India's attack for the best part of a decade before sliding out of the reckoning.
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At peace with life beyond India
Bhuvneshwar was candid about how he has come to terms with his exclusion. Speaking on the RCB Podcast , he said, "I am at peace, and I give credit to my family. At home, we never talk about cricket. We never talk about whether I'll get back into the Indian team, why I wasn't selected, or what went wrong. That played a big role, and there is no regret."
He acknowledged the difficulty of accepting such a transition after years as a central figure. Bhuvneshwar said, "When you're a core member of a team, everyone says: 'Team comes first.' But when you're no longer in the team, naturally you feel: 'Maybe I should still be there.'"
For all that, he framed his situation as a natural part of the sport. Bhuvneshwar said, "I understand that transitions are a part of sport. I understand that generations change. I'm not the first player to experience this, and I certainly won't be the last. Family plays a big role. I am happy being where I am."
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Playing purely for the love of the game
Bhuvneshwar was clear that his motivation now stems from enjoyment rather than ambition. He said, "I've already played for India. That's not something I have to achieve now. If I get another opportunity, that's great, but I've been there. Everything I'm doing now is because of my love for the game."
He added that experience had given him a deeper appreciation of the sport's well-worn wisdom. Bhuvneshwar said, "When you're young and playing for India, you say you love the game. But only now do I actually understand phrases like 'control the controllables', 'don't overthink' and 'play for the passion of the game'. I can genuinely feel those things."
His form has certainly not dipped, having finished as the second-highest wicket-taker in IPL 2026 with 28 scalps in 16 matches at an economy of 7.95, integral to another RCB title.
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A dignified answer that complicates the India comeback push
There is a quiet wisdom in Bhuvneshwar's response that reflects well on him. Rather than fuel the speculation or lobby for a return, he has taken the pressure off himself, and his emphasis on peace over ambition suggests a man unlikely to be destabilised by the noise around his name.
The irony is that this contentment may be exactly what makes him a viable option. A bowler with nothing to prove, playing freely and taking wickets in bulk, is often more dangerous than one straining for recognition.
Whether the selectors share Ashwin's enthusiasm remains to be seen, but Bhuvneshwar has answered the question in the only way he sensibly could, by refusing to let it define him.
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