Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has urged the Indian national team selectors to consider recalling Bhuvneshwar Kumar to the Indian T20 squad. Bhuvneshwar has impressed everyone with his performance in IPL 2026 and currently holds the Purple Cap.
During RCB’s last match, Bhuvneshwar regained the purple cap. Against Mumbai Indians in Raipur, he earned the Player of the Match award for his bowling figures of 4/23 and a six off the first ball in a thrilling last-ball encounter.
‘Bring back hashtag Bhuvi’ – Ravichandran Ashwin
Speaking to GeoHotstar after RCB defeated MI in Raipur on Sunday, Ashwin said the Indian selectors should consider bringing Bhuvneshwar Kumar back into the T20I setup. ‘Bhuvi’ has not played for the country since 2022.
“Hashtag ‘BringbackBhuvi’, I would love to see his name considered for the T20 team,” Ashwin said. “Tick with the new ball, able to complete the death overs well, and if you need a six under pressure, he is hitting sixes even in the toughest parts of the ground.”
Ashwin praised Bhuvneshwar Kumar for quickly adjusting to the conditions and taking full advantage of them. “When he realized there was something on the surface it was proper Test match bowling. He keeps testing you as an opening batsman,” he said.
In his spell, Bhuvneshwar Kumar had removed Ryan Rickelton, Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav in the powerplay, with the latter two being dismissed on consecutive balls. He also made a comeback in the death overs and took the wicket of Tilak Verma.
“To get Rohit Sharma out with that peach of a ball, a slow ball that just swung, was quite unbelievable,” Ashwin said. “And later, he was so selfless that he bowled the yorker when he could have gone for the fourth wicket. Extremely happy for him,” Ashwin said.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar in IPL 2026 and for India
It would not be wrong to say that Bhuvneshwar is the biggest reason behind RCB being on top of the points table right now. Currently, he has 21 wickets in 11 matches and has regained the purple cap.
Like the Orange Cap, the battle for the Purple Cap has also been back and forth throughout the season. Bhuvneshwar has been a very consistent weapon in the power play.
His bowling average has been an incredible 15.28, but his economy rate of 7.46 in this era of batsmen has arguably been a more impressive feat.
RCB’s next match in IPL 2026
Although he has not played for India since 2022, Bhuvneshwar Kumar enjoyed a fruitful T20 International career for India across 10 years. In 87 matches, he took 90 wickets at an average of 23 and an economy rate of less than 7. He also took five wickets twice.
For their next match, Royal Challengers Bangalore will be at their adopted home ground at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur. In that match on May 13, they will face the almost eliminated Kolkata Knight Riders.
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