Bhuvneshwar Kumar prioritises playing over selection as India pacer targets UPT20 campaign
The 36-year-old, who took 28 wickets for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL, is preparing to captain the Lucknow Falcons and supports the state’s ‘speed hunt’ initiative.
Indian cricketer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has affirmed his intention to continue his playing career, stating that decisions regarding his selection for national or domestic teams remain with the selectors. The 36-year-old right-arm pacer, who has not featured for India since 2022, emphasised that his primary motivation is to play the game rather than to secure a spot in the Indian national team or the 2027 World Cup squad.
Kumar recently delivered a standout performance for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League, taking 28 wickets with an economy rate of 8. His tally included 17 wickets in the Powerplay overs, a statistic that drew attention and calls for his reinstatement in India’s white-ball set-up. He is now preparing to captain the Lucknow Falcons in the upcoming UPT20 league, focusing on his role on the field rather than external opinions about his international status.
The veteran pacer last represented India in One Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals in 2022, with his final Test match appearance occurring in 2018. Despite the gap in international cricket, Kumar remains a key figure in Indian domestic cricket. He has taken 231 wickets in 72 Ranji Trophy matches for Uttar Pradesh, with his last first-class appearance coming in a 2024 match against Mumbai.
Kumar’s commitment to Uttar Pradesh extends beyond his own playing career. The Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association has launched a "speed hunt" programme to develop fast-bowling talent, aiming to replicate the success of past pacers such as Praveen Kumar, RP Singh, and Sudip Tyagi. Kumar supports these initiatives, noting that the programme could help strengthen the state’s pace resources following a period where Uttar Pradesh struggled with a lack of depth in the department.
Regarding his immediate future, Kumar stated he has not yet decided whether he will play in the upcoming Ranji season, noting there is still time before making a final decision. He reiterated that his job is simply to play cricket and that judging his own preparedness is not his focus. "How prepared I am is not for me to decide; the rest is the selectors’ call," he said, maintaining that he enjoys playing and loves the game.
