Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bengaluru pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has regained his form in IPL 2026, currently leading the tournament with 22 wickets. His impressive performance has prompted calls from several experts for his return to the national team. However, at the age of 36, and with India’s T20I squad focusing on youth for the future, a comeback appears challenging.
Virat Kohli, former captain and star batter, expressed his support for Bhuvneshwar in RCB’s podcast hosted by Mayanti Langer. Kohli emphasized that players with strong technical skills can overcome difficult phases in their careers. “When you have technical ability in place, you can always adjust, especially when going through tough times. Those with a solid technical foundation find ways to perform,” Kohli remarked.
Kohli further elaborated on the difficulties of consistently bowling at Test match length, a skill Bhuvneshwar seems to have mastered, leading to notable results. He praised Bhuvneshwar’s ability to challenge batters confidently while underscoring the importance of hard work and consistency in an athlete’s development.
“What is Bhuvi doing? He is not bowling exaggerated inswingers or outswingers. He is delivering at a length that asserts his capability to hit the mark consistently. It is the most difficult length to maintain, and he simply aims to see if batters can counter him. It’s a matter of repetition, execution, and unwavering belief. That’s what he’s showing. Look at the results: he has six three-wicket hauls in 11 matches and maintains an economy rate below 8 this season,” Kohli stated.
Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bengaluru sits atop the points table with 16 points from 12 matches, positioning themselves to secure a spot in the playoffs.
