Bhuvneshwar Kumar, an out-of-favour Indian pacer, has remarked about his protracted absence from the national team, his most recent participation coming in the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final against England in Adelaide, a match India lost by ten wickets and was eliminated from the championship.
The 35-year-old stated that he has no control over a possible return to the Indian squad, emphasizing that the selectors make all decisions about selection. Although he acknowledged that the selection committee has the last say for his comeback, he stated that his personal priority is still on producing reliable performances in domestic cricket.
“Aapko iska uttar chayanakarta denge (Only the selectors can answer that). My job is to give 100 percent on the field, and I’m doing that. If I get a chance to play for Uttar Pradesh in the Mushtaq Ali, Ranji, or One-Day formats after the UP league, I will give my best there too,” said Bhuvneshwar to Dainik Jagran.
The Meerut native also subtly points out that not everyone is fortunate in the selecting process. The experienced pacer is hoping to make a comeback into the team, since Rajeev Shukla is now acting as the BCCI’s acting chairman.
“As a disciplined bowler, my focus remains on fitness and line-length. No matter how well you perform, sometimes luck doesn’t favour you. Your performance is paramount. If someone plays good cricket consistently, they cannot be ignored for long. Even if you’re not selected, focus on giving your 100 percent. The rest is up to the selectors. Yes, with Rajeev Shukla as president, it will be difficult to overlook talent.”
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
The veteran bowler helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru win their first IPL title earlier this year, taking 17 wickets in 14 matches. Before being released before the huge auction, he played for Sunrisers Hyderabad the previous season, where he claimed 15 wickets. Bhuvneshwar is among the greatest wicket-takers in IPL history, having played in 190 games and taken 198 wickets over his career.
