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5 Indian players who made comebacks after prolonged absence

India’s cricketing history is dotted with players who defied prolonged absences to reclaim their spots in the national team, proving that resilience and domestic brilliance can often outshine extended downtime. The most recent example came on October 6, 2026, when Bhuvneshwar Kumar—one of the country’s finest swing bowlers—was named in the T20I squad for New Zealand, marking his return after years away.

His inclusion reignited conversations about other cricketers who endured multi-year gaps before earning another chance at the highest level. Among them, Ashish Nehra made a dramatic comeback at age 37 after a five-year hiatus, fueled by standout performances in the Indian Premier League, particularly with Chennai Super Kings.

He played in the 2016 Asia Cup and T20 World Cup before retiring shortly after. Meanwhile, Dinesh Karthik’s journey spanned eight years out of the Test team before his recall in 2018, though his brief stint included a golden duck in the Lord’s Test against England.

Irfan Pathan’s return after nearly two and a half years of absence was earned through top-tier Ranji Trophy bowling in 2011–12, while Yuvraj Singh’s story remains one of the most inspiring in cricket—a fighter who battled cancer to return and score 34 off 26 balls in his comeback ODI against New Zealand in 2012.

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