Bhuvneshwar Kumar: 'I've already played for India, that's not something I have to achieve now'

Veteran India pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has made an honest admission about his relationship with international cricket — returning to the national team is no longer something he is chasing.

The 36-year-old, who last represented India in 2022, says he is now focused on enjoying cricket and maintaining a healthy balance in his life rather than pursuing a comeback. Having represented India in 21 Tests, 121 ODIs and 87 T20Is — and having been part of RCB's IPL 2026-winning campaign — Bhuvneshwar credits his family for helping him accept the transition away from international cricket without regret.

"I'm playing the IPL and domestic cricket because I love the game. When you're young and playing for India, you say you love the game. But honestly, things like 'control the controllables', 'don't overthink', or 'playing for the passion of the game' - I can actually feel those things now."

"I've already played for India. That's not something I have to achieve now. If I get another opportunity, that's great, but I've been there. Everything I'm doing now is because of my love for the game. I know I have to stay disciplined. I play domestic cricket, I play the UP T20 League. I make sure I play enough cricket to stay in touch, while also giving myself enough breaks to recover and stay refreshed," Bhuvneshwar said on the RCB Podcast episode on Sunday.

'There is no regret': family's role in his peace

The 36-year-old pacer opened up about the emotional side of being left out of the national setup, admitting that the initial transition was not easy.

"I am absolutely at peace, and I give credit to my family. At home, we never talk about cricket. We never talk about whether I'll get back into the Indian team, why I wasn't selected, or what went wrong."

"That played a big role, and there is no regret. When you're a core member of a team, everyone says: 'Team comes first.' But when you're no longer in the team, naturally you feel: 'Maybe I should still be there.' I understand that transitions are a part of sport. I understand that generations change. I'm not the first player to experience this, and I certainly won't be the last. That is part of the game. Family plays a big role. I am happy being where I am," he added.

IPL, Kohli and Shastri's impact on Indian pacers

After taking 28 wickets in IPL 2026, Bhuvneshwar believes the league deserves significant credit for helping Indian fast bowlers improve, while also highlighting Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri's role in creating better conditions for pacers.

"The IPL deserves a lot of credit because it exposed so many talented fast bowlers to high-level cricket. You bring them up to the setup, and they mature over time. Traditionally, Indian pitches favoured spin, while overseas conditions suited fast bowling. But during that period, a lot of credit goes to Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri. They had a clear cricket."

"I remember we had important overseas tours coming up. Before those tours, even our home Test matches were played on pitches that helped fast bowlers, simply to prepare us. That showed their vision: they were about building the pace attack. Small decisions like that matter in a lot," he noted.

Early days in Meerut and Praveen Kumar's influence

Reflecting urgently on his early career in Meerut, Bhuvneshwar also remembers former India pacer Praveen Kumar as a major influence on his bowling journey.

"We come from the same academy. When I first joined, he was already playing state cricket. By the time I reached state level, he was playing for India. Our bowling styles naturally were very similar. When I was younger, I was too pushy to keep asking him questions. Instead, I simply observed him. Not just him – my coaches and senior players. Looking back, I realise how lucky I was. The guidance I received during those years built the strong bowling fundamentals that I still rely on today," he concluded.