There are comeback stories, and there are reminders all over again, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru's star pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar is making us take notice of both right now at IPL 2026. With 21 wickets in just 43 overs at a simply astonishing average of 15.29, the veteran swing bowler has suddenly forced everyone to confront a question that many thought Indian cricket had long since moved on from: Did we send him packing too quickly? He is currently leading the purple cap race, having found himself among the wickets in 8 out of the 11 IPL 2026 matches he has played so far.
Few know Bhuvneshwar's journey quite as well as Praveen Kumar, a former India pacer, who, back in the day, found himself on a career path that mirrors Bhuvneshwar's - all the skill you could want, plus a good load of injuries and one day finding yourself no longer included.
“Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar) has learnt a lot. He has won the purple cap twice before. He should be considered for the shorter format. The selectors should consider him for the Indian white-ball team. I am enjoying his success. He is a great bowler,” Praveen Kumar told Sports Now.
Then Praveen dropped a line that gives away the bond that's built up between two guys who've both had more than their fair share of struggles. “Chota bhai hai mera” - literally translated, that means "he's my little brother".
For Praveen, Bhuvneshwar's resurgence is proof that class never really goes away. You can move on, he says, adding that it doesn't mean he's lost his touch. He further stressed that if a bloke isn't on the radar for a couple of years, that doesn't mean he's gone rusty; if he's back in the running for the purple cap, there has to be something that shows he's still an elite player.
"When a fast bowler is coming back from injury, the only thing he thinks about is his comeback and how to take care of his body to extend his career. I am telling you, if a cricketer is not in the reckoning for two or three years, it doesn't mean that he forgets how to play. If he is in contention for a purple cap again, then there must be something about him that makes him special. He is doing something that no one else is doing," the 39-year-old said.
It's also personal for Praveen; he had his own India career derailed by injuries at a time when he was one of the most reliable swing bowlers in the country, watching Bhuvneshwar fight through similar setbacks really resonates with him.
"You and I can predict anything. He is working hard and he should get what he deserves. Just think that he has won the purple cap twice. So there must be something about him. For the shorter formats (white-ball cricket), he should be considered.Chota bhai hai mera. He only told me that playing five-day cricket is difficult now. He should be considered for the ODI World Cup. Imagine India having a white-ball attack consisting of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, and Bhuvi," he highlighted, giving food for thought for the selectors.
The support for Bhuvneshwar isn't just from folks who've been there and done it. Madan Lal, one of the 1983 World Cup heroes, also thinks the old pacer's got a real claim to a spot in India's white-ball setup, even more so with the ODI World Cup slated to be held in 2027.
“When you move the ball, you get the wickets, and when you turn the ball, you get wickets. Bhuvaneshwar is doing the same thing. He is bowling in the right areas, in the right corridor. He is moving the ball within the stumps, where you can get the edge and get the wicket-keeper and the slips into play. He has done very well, and he can come back to the Indian team,” the 75-year-old former India pacer told Sports Now.
Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now
