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Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) Bhuvneshwar Kumar is leading the purple pace race in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. In the batters’ world where even 250-plus targets aren’t safe, Bhuvneshwar is an anomaly. He hasn’t done much different but honed in on his skills and has operated in the area of uncertainty. No raw pace, or new-found variations but Bhuvneshwar finds himself in a league of his own. RCB mentor Dinesh Karthik calls him only second to Jasprit Bumrah whereas Ravichandran Ashwin has called for his India comeback. But, Bhuvneshwar remains unfazed by the talk. He admits he has stopped making long-term goals for himself as they have never worked for him. He intends to live in the moment and is happy to play 200 IPL games.
“I am not thinking about India’s comeback. It has been many years since I stopped keeping or making long-term goals, because whenever I did that, it never worked for me. I am happy that I have played 200 matches and taken so many wickets, in the powerplay and at the death. I think it is all a reward for what I have done over the years. There have been good years and bad years. Honestly, at this point in time, I am not feeling anything special. Of course, I would be lying if I said that I will not feel it later on. Once I stop playing, I think these will be memories that will come in handy later. But at this point in time, for me, I think it is very normal," Bhuvneshwar said in a video posted by RCB.
The 36-year-old has 21 wickets from 11 games at an average of 15.28. His economy rate is 7.46 runs per over, better than any pacer with 10 or more wickets, barring Lucknow Super Giants' (LSG) left-arm pacer Mohsin Khan (7.45).
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Longer break helps Bhuvneshwar
Bhuvneshwar said that he is not doing something knew as the process remains the same. However, since he got dropped from the Indian side, he has moved his focus away from Vijay Hazare Trophy and Ranji Trophy. It has helped him get a longer break after the IPL but he plays enough cricket in-between to stay in touch and in shape.
“I know 2026 is going well. I’m getting wickets, but I’m doing all the same things I was doing earlier as well. Of course, I can say the training has been a bit more, or maybe some things have improved since I haven’t been playing for the country. One of the best things is that I get quite a long break after the IPL. I think I play so much cricket that I stay in touch, and I also get enough of a break that I have time to do other things," he said.
Will Bhuvneshwar be back to India’s T20I side?
The selectors will be thinking long-term, unlike Bhuvneshwar. The T20 World Cup 2028 will take place in Australia and New Zealand. By that time, Bhuvneshwar will turn 38. It is highly unlikely that the experienced pacer, whose last T20I appearance was three and a half years ago, makes a comeback.
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