Senior India fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar has sparked speculation about his future in international cricket. Some fans noticed on Friday that the SunRisers Hyderabad pacer changed his Instagram bio from ‘India cricketer’ to ‘Indian’, leading to rumors of a potential retirement.
Fans have been wondering what prompted the change in the bio of the India fast bowler, even as he was seen at the National Cricket Academy with Kolkata Knight Riders star Rinku Singh.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s career has been on the decline recently due to multiple injuries he has suffered in the last few years. The 33-year-old, who has played 21 Tests, 121 ODIs and 87 T20Is, last represented India in November 2022 in a T20I series against New Zealand.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has not played in an ODI since January 2022 and does not seem to be in the team’s plans for the ODI World Cup, which will be held at home from October 5 to November 17.
Regular injury setbacks have forced Bhuvneshwar Kumar to give up hopes of playing Test cricket, as he has not featured in the longest format of the game since the South Africa tour in December-January 2017-18.
Despite being one of the best bowlers with the new ball, selectors have consistently overlooked him throughout 2023. However, Bhuvneshwar’s performance in the IPL 2023 was notable. He played 14 matches and took 16 wickets in 14 innings, making him the leading wicket-taker for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Despite his limited opportunities, his strike rate of 19.12 and average of 26.56 showcased his continued excellence in the shortest format of the game.
It is unlikely that Bhuvneshwar Kumar would give up on his hopes of making an India comeback, especially in the T20 format of the game. At 33, Bhuvneshwar is still the leader of the pack for SunRisers Hyderabad, and the Meerut bowler will be hoping to put in the hard work ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and the USA.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked up 37 wickets in 32 matches in T20Is in 2022, finishing as India’s leading wicket-taker in the shortest format of the game. However, his performances in the T20 World Cup last year were disappointing, as he managed only 6 wickets in 4 matches.