In the world of Indian cricket, there are massive discussions taking place regarding the future of experienced fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Amidst these talks, former Indian spin legend Ravichandran Ashwin has made a very significant statement that has created a stir in cricketing circles, while ravichandran Ashwin believes that fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar has already played his last international match for India and it looks extremely difficult for him to make a comeback into the Indian team. Bhuvneshwar Kumar had made a strong return to the Indian T20 international team following two stellar seasons in the Indian Premier League, but during the five match T20 series played against New Zealand, his performance was extremely disappointing and he failed to make any impact whatsoever.
The Gap Between IPL Form and International Performance
While speaking in detail on his YouTube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin stated that there was a massive day and night difference between Bhuvneshwar Kumar performance in the IPL and his form in the international series. Bhuvneshwar Kumar had presented a very strong claim for a comeback into Team India on the back of his brilliant performance in IPL 2026. Playing for Royal Chestllengers Bengaluru, the experienced bowler took 28 wickets in 16 matches and was one of the finest and most effective bowlers of the entire tournament. However, when he got the opportunity to play the bilateral series against New Zealand, he struggled completely to replicate that brilliant IPL form at the international level.
Bhuvneshwar Disappointing Performance in New Zealand Series
The five match T20 series played against New Zealand didn't go well for Bhuvneshwar Kumar at all. His first match of the series proved to be quite expensive for him and the team, where he conceded 49 runs in his quota of four overs and failed to take any wickets. His only wicket of the series came in the second T20 match when he dismissed batsman Daryl Mitchell, but even in that match, he leaked 50 runs. Following that, there was no improvement in the third match either, as he went wicketless while conceding 40 runs in his spell. Although he didn't play the fourth T20 match of this series, he made a return in the final and fifth match where he once again remained completely empty handed and conceded 41 runs without taking any wickets. 50 runs per over, which can be called a deeply disappointing and concerning comeback for an experienced bowler who performed so brilliantly in the IPL.
Serious Questions Raised on Preparation and Intensity
Ashwin also clarified in his analysis that the cause of concern wasn't just limited to conceding runs or not taking wickets, but the matter was much deeper than that. He raised serious questions regarding the intensity of the experienced bowler during the match, his run up speed, and the overall speed of his bowling, while according to Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar pre series preparation was probably not up to the required level needed for a comeback in international cricket. Sharing his thoughts, Ashwin said to leave the performance aside and to leave conceding extra runs aside, as that wasn't the point, while he stated that what felt most disappointing to him was that the way Bhuvneshwar bowls in the IPL, his intensity during this series was very low, his run up speed was slow, and his bowling speed also appeared quite low. All these things tell him that perhaps Bhuvneshwar Kumar didn't arrive in the best and complete training form for this series.
The Difficult Gap Between Youth and Experience
Continuing his point, former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also explained that sometimes the extensive experience a player possesses can actually prove to be detrimental for a returning player. While young players of the country are given plenty of opportunities nowadays to learn from their mistakes, an experienced international bowler is immediately expected to deliver top performances right upon stepping onto the field. Due to this intense pressure and the demanding nature of international cricket, Ashwin feels that the doors of the Indian team are now almost closed for Bhuvneshwar Kumar and he has played his final international fixture.