Former India opener Virender Sehwag has thrown his weight behind Bhuvneshwar Kumar, urging the selectors to consider a national comeback for the experienced pacer following his impressive run in the ongoing IPL 2026.
Bhuvneshwar delivered a standout performance for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Gujarat Titans on April 30, returning figures of 3/28. In the process, he achieved a significant milestone, becoming the first Indian fast bowler to reach 350 T20 wickets. The veteran also climbed to the top of the Purple Cap standings, taking his tally to 17 wickets in nine matches, including five three-wicket hauls this season.
Despite falling out of favour with the Indian team in 2022, Bhuvneshwar has quietly rebuilt his reputation through consistent IPL performances. He played a key role in RCB’s title-winning campaign in 2025 and has carried that form into the current season, maintaining an impressive economy rate of 7.54 in a high-scoring tournament.
Speaking after Bhuvneshwar’s impactful spell against Gujarat, Sehwag lauded the pacer’s consistency and adaptability, referring to him as Vintage Bhuvi.
“Bhuvneshwar Kumar seems to be the best bowler in this lot. He has made 2-3 outs in the match, even today he has made 3 outs and has made the match for RCB. Sometimes I think, what is his age? If he is 35-36 years old, so what? If he is producing big performances, he should think about his comeback in the T20 format or the selectors should think about it. Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar used to have a combination, can they make that combination again? He bowls well with both new and old balls,” Sehwag said on Cricbuzz.
The former India batter also highlighted how Bhuvneshwar continues to deliver against top opposition, proving his relevance in modern T20 cricket.
“I enjoyed watching Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s old game today. I could see the sharpness in his game. He is playing against the top batters. It’s not like he is playing well against one or two good teams; he is playing against all the strong teams. I enjoyed watching him play, you can call Bhuvneshwar Kumar a vintage. You never know,” he added.
With performances like these, the seasoned swing bowler has once again sparked discussions around a potential return to India’s T20 setup
