'Sitting out for four years didn't feel difficult': Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar (BCCI Photo)

While the jury is still out on whether recalling Bhuvneshwar Kumar after a four-year break was the right call, and whether he should be considered for the 2027 ODI World Cup, the man himself is steering clear of that debate and focusing instead on enjoying his comeback.The key to his return, Bhuvneshwar says, is that he “never chased it”. And he intends to maintain that approach.“It was always a dream and I’m happy to return. But I never chased it, so sitting out for four years didn’t feel difficult because I was taking it one tournament at a time and focusing on challenges related to cricket and fitness. It never crossed my mind that I had to play to make a comeback. That thought process simplified things, and all credit goes to the last two IPL seasons because of which I’m here,” Bhuvneshwar, who last played for India in 2022, said after India’s on Tuesday.

He added that he will return to India after the T20I series to play in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy, after which he will assess where he stands in terms of future opportunities.Speaking about the match, Bhuvneshwar praised Abhishek Sharma and the manner in which he approached his innings.“He has been doing this for a couple of years now, so it’s not the first time. Credit goes to Abhishek for batting like this. It wasn’t easy out there. The way he batted and finished the game within the first six overs of a T20 innings takes a lot of skill, and Abhishek is doing it again and again,” he said.