Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra reckons veteran fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar deserves to be recalled to India’s T20I team after RCB secured a thrilling two-wicket win against MI at Raipur in the ongoing IPL 2026 on Sunday.
Kumar returned with impressive figures of 4-23 in his quota of four overs and thus played a key role in restricting MI to 166. Kumar accounted for Ryan Rickelton, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma. Thus, he was awarded Player of the Match for his fine performance.
“Bhuvneshwar Kumar, you have been absolutely outstanding. I am saying a place should be made for him again in the Indian T20I team. He picked up four wickets. He has taken three or more wickets six times this season. Before this, in the 19-year history, only one bowler had taken three wickets six times. That was Harshal Patel in the 2021 season. Bhuvi has already done that here. He is bowling at an economy of less than eight,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
Chopra said Kumar deserves a place in India’s T20I team as he has performed consistently in the shortest format.
“He even hit a six over cover in the end, and reminds one of Mukul Choudhary. If the selection happens based on performances, and the number of T20Is we are going to play, and it’s being said that you will have to play multiple teams at the same time, then play Bhuvi as well. What’s the point otherwise? There should be some gain from performances, and that can be the only benefit,” he observed.
The cricket analyst also praised Krunal Pandya for scoring a match-winning knock of 73 runs off 46 balls in the run chase of 167.
“Bhuvneshwar Kumar was absolutely outstanding, and so was Krunal Pandya. He remains economical with the ball and takes one or two wickets regularly. He was sent up the order because you were 39/3, so that he could have saved the match somehow. Plays a knock to remember,” he said.
The former Delhi cricketer said Pandya can also be considered for selection by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel.
“He was absolutely stellar. He was getting cramps in the end. He was falling, but was hitting sixes and fours. He stayed there till he could last. Eventually, Tilak Varma took a good catch in the deep. I feel the Indian team will start considering his name once again because his alternative, Axar Patel, is not having any success,” Chopra observed.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will next take on Kolkata Knight Riders at Raipur on Wednesday.
