'Four years, I never chased this Indian jersey': Bhuvneshwar Kumar

India pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar believes staying focused on his work without expecting too much from himself helped him deal with a four-year absence from international cricket.

The experienced bowler returned to the national setup earlier this month as a replacement for injured Arshdeep Singh in the fifth T20I against the West Indies, but rain washed out the match. He eventually returned to action in the first T20I against New Zealand.

Speaking in a video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Bhuvneshwar explained that focusing on the present instead of worrying about a comeback helped him grow as a player and person. “The headspace I am in is very simple. I have no expectations of myself. I think that’s how things worked out for me in the last 3-4 years. No expectations; just keep doing your work. Generally, we talk about being present; we don’t think about the future. I think that’s the headspace I am in right now. And that has happened in the last 3-4 years,” he said.

Bhuvneshwar said the years away from international cricket taught him patience and maturity. Rather than constantly chasing a place in the Indian team, he concentrated on improving his game through the IPL and domestic cricket. “Four years, I never chased this Indian jersey. So honestly, I didn’t even know when those four years would come. I think it evolved big time, and I think IPL has a big role in that.”

Despite having no clear expectations about his future, the 36-year-old continued working on his fitness, skills and mental preparation. He also expressed surprise at winning two IPL titles in two years.

Adapting to modern T20 cricket

Bhuvneshwar acknowledged that T20 cricket has changed considerably, with batters attacking from the first ball and scores of 200 becoming increasingly common. However, he believes bowlers can still control the game by using smart strategies and making batters hit where they want.

He also pointed out that overseas tours, particularly to SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia), present challenges because conditions often offer limited help to bowlers. According to him, success in these conditions requires maturity, careful planning and teamwork.

Reflecting on India's opening win against New Zealand, Bhuvneshwar said a strong start could boost confidence across the squad and help the team perform better throughout the tour and in other formats.