Indian fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar isn’t solely fixated on staging a return to the national team; instead, he is embracing his remaining time as a pace bowler. The 33-year-old has been absent from Team India’s plans since the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia.
For nearly a decade, Bhuvneshwar was a key component of Team India’s white-ball bowling unit, having debuted in late 2012. However, the emergence of talents like Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, among others, has pushed him down the hierarchy.
During the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, Bhuvneshwar represented the Sunrisers Hyderabad, claiming 16 wickets in 14 matches with an economy rate of 8.33. In an interview with The National, Bhuvneshwar shared his perspective on the twilight of his career, acknowledging the possibility of a comeback while prioritizing enjoyment of the game:
“As a fast bowler, when you reach a stage where you know your playing time is limited, it makes you appreciate cricket even more. I find myself in that phase now.” He further clarified that being excluded from the Indian setup doesn’t trouble him: “Yes, I’m not part of the Indian team, but it doesn’t concern me. I’m not attempting anything unconventional or devising new strategies to stage a comeback. My primary focus is on playing cricket.”
“I’m not solely driven by the desire to return. I’m doing what’s necessary to play high-quality cricket. There may be an opportunity to rejoin the Indian team, but it’s not my primary objective at the moment,” he added.
It’s worth noting that Bhuvneshwar Kumar was also omitted from the central contract list in March 2023 and was not named in Team India’s ODI World Cup squad announced recently.
