Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) suffered a defeat against Gujarat Titans (GT), after failing to defend 156 runs in their IPL 2026 clash on Thursday, April 30 at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Despite the defeat, RCB's Bhuvneshwar Kumar shined with the ball, clinching three wickets for just 28 runs in four overs.
Virender Sehwag calls for Bhuvneshwar Kumar's comeback in Indian T20I team
Amid his great run in the ongoing IPL 2026, former India cricketer Virender Sehwag has urged the national selectors to consider him again for an international comeback to help the young Indian T20I side with his valuable experience.
In an interaction with Cricbuzz, Sehwag praised Bhuvneshwar for consistently picking wickets, and, despite his age (36) he asked the selectors to consider the RCB pacer for a second chance in India's T20I setup.
"It means that in this slot, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been bowling brilliantly. In every match he is taking two to three wickets, and even today he took three wickets. Basically, he has made the match for RCB. Sometimes I think, even if he is 35 or 36 today, so what? If he is bowling this well, then he should definitely be considered for a comeback in T20 cricket, or the selectors should think about it," said Sehwag.
Talking further on the subject, Sehwag noted that Bhuvneshwar Kumar could make a strong pairing with Jasprit Bumrah as he bowls with the new ball as well as the old ball. Sehwag believes that Bhuvneshwar has rediscovered his old form again as he is consistently taking wickets against every big team in the competition.
"A combination of Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar could be very strong again. He bowls with the new ball as well as the old ball. And it was really enjoyable to watch because the old Bhuvneshwar Kumar was visible again. That sharpness was there in his bowling. And he is bowling against top-quality batters, not just one or two teams. Against every team he has bowled so far, it has been impressive to watch. You could call this vintage Bhuvneshwar Kumar. You never know," concluded Sehwag.
Vintage Bhuvneshwar Kumar in IPL 2026
The star RCB pacer has managed to bring back his best form in the IPL 2026, picking up 17 wickets in just nine matches at an economy rate of 7.54 and a bowling average of 15.52. His best figures of 3/5 came against Delhi Capitals. The Rajat Patidar-led side will look for more impactful performances from Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the later stages of the tournament to successfully defend the title.
Currently, RCB sit at the second place in the table with 12 points in hand after playing nine matches in the tournament, at a net run rate of +1.420.