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Bhuvneshwar Kumar has returned to India's T20I squad nearly four years after his last international appearance, earning a place in the team for the upcoming five-match series against New Zealand. His recall comes after two productive IPL seasons with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where he played a key role in their consecutive title-winning campaigns.
However, Bhuvneshwar Kumar's return also highlights a difference in selection thinking after Ajit Agarkar's exit as chairman of the senior men's selection committee. According to a PTI report, the experienced seamer had support from Central Zone selector RP Singh, but Agarkar was not convinced about bringing him back into the Indian setup.
Ajit Agarkar never approved Bhuvneshwar Kumar's comeback despite RP Singh's request
Bhuvneshwar Kumar's performances had put his name back into the discussion well before his eventual recall. The 36-year-old had taken 17 wickets for RCB in IPL 2025 and followed that with 28 wickets in the 2026 season, giving him 45 wickets across the two campaigns. His ability to swing the new ball remained an important part of his game despite his long absence from international cricket.
Yet, the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar did not turn towards him. PTI reported that RP Singh had backed Bhuvneshwar's inclusion, but did not receive enough support while Agarkar remained chairman. The situation changed after Agarkar's tenure ended, with Pragyan Ojha taking charge of the panel on an interim basis.
The absence of Jasprit Bumrah also created room for an experienced option. Bhuvneshwar Kumar's return therefore gives India a bowler who can contribute immediately while also helping the younger pacers around him.
BCCI invites applications for Ajit Agarkar's replacement
The BCCI has now opened the process to appoint one new member to the Men's Selection Committee following Agarkar's departure. The board issued the application notice on October 6 and has set October 14, 2026, at 5 PM IST as the deadline for eligible candidates. The new selector will be involved in selecting India's senior men's teams across Tests, ODIs and T20Is, along with talent identification and building the team's bench strength.
The applicant must have played at least seven Tests, or 30 first-class matches, or 10 ODIs and 20 first-class matches. The candidate must also have retired from cricket at least five years earlier.
The new appointment will also add another voice to a selection panel that currently has Ojha, Shiv Sundar Das, Ajay Ratra and RP Singh. Until the new member is appointed, Ojha is serving as the interim chairperson.
How Bhuvneshwar Kumar staged India comeback
Bhuvneshwar's comeback has been built largely on his work in the IPL. After taking 17 wickets for RCB in 2025, he went a step further in 2026, claiming 28 wickets in 16 matches at an economy rate of 7.95. His control with the new ball and experience in different phases of an innings remained valuable for RCB.
His international experience is considerably greater than that of most of India's current pace options. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has played 21 Tests, 121 ODIs and 87 T20Is for India, taking 63, 141 and 90 wickets respectively. His last international appearance came against New Zealand in November 2022.
India's current pace group is still developing, with players such as Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav being considered for the longer-term T20I setup. Bhuvneshwar Kumar can offer more than just his own four overs in that environment. His understanding of swing bowling, powerplay plans and handling different match situations can provide useful lessons to the younger bowlers as India builds towards the next T20 World Cup cycle.
Also Read: Dinesh Karthik compares Bhuvneshwar Kumar with Jasprit Bumrah after India recall
