Ravichandran Ashwin Advocates for Bhuvneshwar Kumar's T20I Comeback

Ravichandran Ashwin has voiced his support for Bhuvneshwar Kumar's return to the T20I team, praising his recent performances and skills. Bhuvneshwar, at 36, continues to impress with his bowling, recently achieving a four-wicket haul in a tense match. Ashwin also discussed RCB's challenges, particularly the form of Romario Shepherd, while recapping RCB's thrilling victory over MI. With RCB leading the points table, the focus remains on their upcoming matches and player performances.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 11, 2026, 13:47 IST

Ashwin's Call for Bhuvneshwar's T20I Inclusion

Ravichandran Ashwin, the former Indian all-rounder, expressed his desire to see Bhuvneshwar Kumar rejoin the T20I squad, praising his exceptional skills both with the new ball and during the death overs.

At 36, Bhuvneshwar continues to impress, recently achieving a remarkable four-wicket haul and contributing a vital six runs in a tense chase of 167 runs. His current performance mirrors his prime years with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), boasting 21 wickets in 11 matches at an impressive average of 15.28 and an economy rate of 7.46, with his best figures being 4/23.

During an appearance on JioHotstar's 'Match Centre Live', Ashwin remarked on Bhuvneshwar's ability to execute 'proper Test match bowling' on a pitch that favored pacers, particularly with its uneven bounce. He stated, "#BringBackBhuvi, I would love to see him considered for the T20I side. He excels with the new ball, effectively handles death overs, and can deliver crucial runs under pressure. His bowling was exemplary, especially when he recognized the pitch conditions, consistently challenging opening batters."

Bhuvneshwar's International Career Stats

Bhuvneshwar last represented India in the T20 World Cup 2022 semifinal against England, where India faced a 10-wicket defeat. He ranks as India's seventh-highest T20I wicket-taker, with 90 wickets in 87 innings, averaging 23.10 and maintaining an economy rate of 6.96. His record includes three four-wicket hauls and two five-wicket hauls, with his best performance being 5/4.

Ashwin highlighted Bhuvneshwar's dismissal of MI opener Rohit Sharma using a knuckleball, which was caught by Jitesh Sharma. He also praised Krunal Pandya's impressive 73 runs off 46 balls, which played a crucial role in RCB's challenging chase, referring to it as 'proper pressure management.'

Ashwin Discusses RCB's Challenges

Following RCB's narrow victory, Ashwin noted that while they are not in dire straits, they are eager to secure wins. He identified a few concerns, particularly the underwhelming performance of Romario Shepherd, who contributed only four runs off 11 balls, intensifying the pressure during the chase. Ashwin believes the management should exercise patience with him.

"A win in this match could propel RCB forward in the tournament. However, there are areas of concern. It's tempting to consider replacing Romario Shepherd, but given his potential, the coaching staff should weigh the benefits of keeping him in the lineup, especially when they are leading the table. If he performs well on a crucial day, their faith in him will be justified," he concluded. This season, Shepherd has accumulated just 83 runs in seven innings, averaging 20.75 with a strike rate of 125.75, and has taken six wickets at an average nearing 40.

Match Summary: RCB's Exciting Victory Over MI

In the match, RCB won the toss and chose to bowl first, a decision that paid off as MI quickly fell to 28/3 in the powerplay, thanks to Bhuvneshwar's outstanding bowling. Naman Dhir (47 off 32 balls) and Tilak Varma (57 off 42) stabilized the innings with an 82-run partnership, leading MI to a total of 166/7 in 20 overs. Bhuvneshwar was the standout bowler for RCB, taking 4 wickets for 23 runs, supported by Josh Hazlewood (1/33) and Romario Shepherd (1/18 in three overs).

During the chase, RCB faced early setbacks, losing Virat Kohli for a second consecutive golden duck and slipping to 39/3, with Deepak Chahar (2/33) controlling the game. However, Krunal Pandya formed a 55-run partnership with Jacob Bethell (26 off 27 balls) and another 38-run partnership with Jitesh Sharma (18), reaching a crucial fifty. Despite losing wickets, including Krunal, RCB managed to secure a last-ball victory, with Rasikh Salam Dar (3*) hitting the winning runs. RCB now leads the points table with seven wins and four losses, totaling 14 points, while MI sits ninth with three wins and eight losses, having been eliminated from playoff contention.