After Prasidh Krishna was named as Mohammed Siraj’s replacement for the UK tour, former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra wondered if this is the end of the road for Bhuvneshwar Kumar in T20Is. Kumar ended IPL 2026 with 28 scalps in 16 matches at an average of 17.89 and an economy rate of 7.95 and thus played a key role in taking RCB to glory for the second consecutive time.
Furthermore, Kumar returned with impressive figures of 2-29 in his quota of four overs against Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2026 final. The veteran seamer accounted for Sai Sudharsan and Jason Holder but was ignored in the 16-man squad for the UK tour.
“Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s non-selection. Is this the end of his career? In fact, Prasidh Krishna has been picked in place of Mohammed Siraj because they are trying to do a little workload management. There was an opportunity earlier as well, when they were selecting, and now also, as you had to replace someone, but Bhuvneshwar Kumar is not that guy,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
The renowned commentator added that Kumar not being given a chance in swinging conditions of Ireland and England, means the selectors are not looking towards him.
“Never say never is what we all say, but if you are not selecting him even now, when you have rested Siraj, and this was a chance in Ireland and England, where the ball moves a little more and there is help for fast bowlers, perhaps the right time to give one more opportunity to Bhuvneshwar Kumar, but if he hasn’t got a chance here, the road ahead is closed,” he observed.
Chopra reckons Kumar’s non-selection is heartbreaking as he should have received his chance after performing consistently in the last two editions of the IPL.
“It may sound very harsh. It may sound heartbreaking because I only had said that he should be played, that he is absolutely ready, and you make so many changes due to workload management, and that we have fast bowlers, but not so many that you can’t play Bhuvi one or two series. I was not talking about the World Cup. We don’t know what would happen in 2028,” he said.
Kumar would look to carry the good form in the domestic circuit.
