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BCCI’s decision to pick Praisdh Krishna in place of Mohammed Siraj is a career-threatening move for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), as per the former India opener Aakash Chopra. After the conclusion of the Afghanistan series, Team India is scheduled to tour the United Kingdom to face Ireland and England.
Ahead of the white-ball series, the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) has replaced Mohammed Siraj, to give him some rest, with another seamer, Prasidh Krishna, but not Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar was ahead of Prasidh Krishna in IPL 2026
Stats-wise, Bhuvneshwar Kumar had a better IPL 2026 season compared to Krishna. Kumar missed the Purple Cap by only one wicket. On the other side, Prasidh Krishna started the league campaign on a strong note, but gradually lost the momentum.
As the board picked the pacer who took 16 wickets in 12 matches over the pacer who claimed 29 wickets in 17, it provides some insight into the selectors' thought process. For the cricket fans who wanted to see Kumar back in action for the national team again, they might have been heartbroken with the decision, but the truth is the truth.
"Bhuvneshwar Kumar's non-selection. Is this the end of his career? In fact, Prasidh Krishna has been picked in place of Mohammed Siraj because they are trying to do a little workload management."
"There was an opportunity earlier as well, when they were selecting, and now also, as you had to replace someone, but Bhuvneshwar Kumar is not that guy," Aakash Chopra raised the topic on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’.
English conditions would be more favorable for Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Chopra highlighted that in England and Ireland, the pacers get extra assistance from the pitches, and Kumar’s strength is to swing the ball in both ways. Despite the favorable conditions and good form when the selectors ignored the pacer, it could be a hint of a roadblock.
"Never say never is what we all say, but if you are not selecting him even now, when you have rested Siraj, and this was a chance in Ireland and England, where the ball moves a little more and there is help for fast bowlers, perhaps the right time to give one more opportunity to Bhuvneshwar Kumar, but if he hasn't got a chance here, the road ahead is closed," he said in the same video.
He should be played: Aakash Chopra
The former cricketer-turned commentator and cricket expert further mentions that Kumar deserves to play for the national team again after all the brilliant spells he he did during over the past few weeks.
"It may sound very harsh. It may sound heartbreaking because I only had said that he should be played, that he is absolutely ready, and you make so many changes due to workload management, and that we have fast bowlers, but not so many that you can't play Bhuvi one or two series. I was not talking about the World Cup. We don't know what would happen in 2028," he added.
