When was the last time Bhuvneshwar Kumar played for India?
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Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be making his India return after four long years.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) annnounced the India squad for the T20I leg of New Zealand series. The tour will begin with a five-match T20I series on October 22, before the teams move on to the ODI and Test matches.
The first T20I will be played at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on October 22. The second match will also take place in Christchurch on October 24. The teams will then travel to Wellington for the third T20I on October 27. The fourth match will be played at Eden Park in Auckland on October 30, followed by the final T20I at Seddon Park in Hamilton on November 1.
The highlight of the squad was return of veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The experienced pacer returns to India’s T20I side after a long gap and brings plenty of experience to the bowling attack.
His return was reported ahead of the announcement, with the selectors considering him for the five-match series. Kumar will now have a chance to make an impact in New Zealand conditions, and reclaim his spot back.
When did Bhuvneshwar Kumar last played for India?
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Bhuvneshwar 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 Bhuvneshwar Kumar failed to pick any wickets.
Later, India scored 75/4 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
When did Bhuvneshwar Kumar last played for India?
Bhuvneshwar Kumar played his last T20I game in November 2022 against New Zealand
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