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‘I felt I’d be back after next 2 series’: Bhuvneshwar Kumar reveals how he realised his India return wasn’t coming

Following back-to-back championship runs with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has reignited public debate regarding his absence from the national lineup after nearly four years away. 89 in 2026, finishing just a single scalp away from claiming a third career Purple Cap.

Appearing on Jatin Sapru's YouTube show, Kumar acknowledged that while he feels his performances merit a spot in the national T20I squad, he is no longer desperate for a recall and holds no lingering anguish if selectors bypass him.

Kumar's last international appearance occurred at Napier in November 2022 during a bilateral series staged right after India's defeat to England in the T20 World Cup semifinal in Adelaide. He explained that conversations with team management initially led him to anticipate an eventual recall within a couple of tours, though he subsequently realized that prospect was gone and accepted the outcome with guidance from his family.