Major update on Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s India comeback
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Bhuvneshwar Kumar last played for India in November 2022.
After India’s T20I series against the West Indies ends on Saturday, October 17, the Men in Blue will travel to New Zealand to face the Black Caps. Their tour of New Zealand will commence with a five-match T20I series, followed by five ODIs and two Test matches.
The first T20I fixture will be played at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch, only five days after the West Indies series ends. Meanwhile, the players will also have to travel to the Oceania region for the tour, which will only add to the toll they will endure.
Thus, the selection committee might consider making a few changes on the side to give their players enough time to rest for the ODI series and eventually, the tests, which will be crucial for the ongoing World Test Championship cycle.
At the same time, they would also have to keep in mind that the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup is less than a year away. And with all these things currently going on, India has reportedly decided to call up a veteran.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to make a return for India against New Zealand – Reports
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According to a recent report by Devendra Pandey of Indian Expresss, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is likely to be picked in India’s squad for the T20I series against New Zealand in late October.
Bhuvaneshwar Kumar played his last T20I game in November 2022 against New Zealand. The 36-year-old represented India in the shortest format of international cricket for almost a decade before being dropped from the side.
Kumar’s last international T20I game was a draw via the DLS method. The Black Caps won the toss and decided to bat first at McLean Park in Napier. Devon Conway and Glenn Phillips scored half-centuries and guided the hosts to a total of 160 runs. Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj took four wickets each, while Bhuvaneshwar Kumar failed to pick any wickets.
Later, India scored 76 runs in nine overs, and the match ended in a draw. However, Kumar has been active in the Indian Premier League over the years. He also took two wickets in the IPL 2026 final, where Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Gujarat Titans (GT) to win their second consecutive title at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
He has been a crucial part of the Royal Challengers over the last two seasons, during which they won the title. In 2025, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar took 17 wickets in 14 matches; in the subsequent years, he took 28 wickets in 16 matches.
How many T20Is has Bhuvneshwar Kumar played for India?
He has played 87 T20Is for India.
How many wickets has Bhuvneshwar Kumar taken in T20Is?
He has taken 90 wickets.
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