The 36-year-old pacer has taken one wicket in three T20Is against New Zealand since returning to the Indian team for the first time since November 2022.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has revealed that he never actively pursued a return to the Indian team, crediting his performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) over the past two seasons for earning him another opportunity to represent the country.
The 36-year-old fast bowler made his India comeback after nearly four years on the sidelines, having last played for the national team in November 2022. Speaking after India's victory over New Zealand in the third T20I in Wellington, Bhuvneshwar said his focus had remained on performing well and meeting the challenges that came his way rather than targeting an international recall.
"To tell you the truth, I did not chase an India comeback. Yes, it is a dream. I am not saying that I am not happy. I am very happy. To play for India, to represent India, it is a matter of pride," Bhuvneshwar said.
He added that consistently working on his cricket and fitness over the past four years had helped him remain focused without placing the pressure of an international return on himself.
"For four years, whatever was coming in front of me — tournaments, challenges, whatever — about cricket, about fitness, whatever else, I kept doing it. I never thought that I would want to play cricket for only an India comeback," he said.
Bhuvneshwar credited his performances in the IPL over the last two seasons for paving the way for his return to international cricket.
The experienced pacer played a crucial role for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who won consecutive IPL titles. He claimed 17 wickets in the 2025 season before producing an even more impressive campaign in 2026, finishing with 28 wickets.
His experience became particularly valuable for India ahead of the white-ball series against New Zealand, with Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya unavailable for this leg of the tour.
However, Bhuvneshwar has found the transition back to international cricket challenging. Despite his impressive IPL record, he has struggled to make a significant impact in batter-friendly conditions during the ongoing T20I series.
In three matches against New Zealand, he has taken just one wicket at an economy rate of 11.58 and a bowling average of 139.00.
Earlier in the series, India bowling coach Morne Morkel acknowledged the difficulties surrounding Bhuvneshwar's return, pointing to the expectations that followed his strong IPL performances and the limited preparation time available before the international assignment.
Morkel also highlighted the difference between domestic franchise cricket and international cricket, where the margins for error are considerably smaller.
With India having secured the series, Bhuvneshwar will have further opportunities to find his rhythm as the team looks to finish the tour strongly.
India will travel to Auckland for the fourth T20I on October 30 before concluding the series in Hamilton on November 1.
