Ashwin says Bhuvneshwar Kumar has played his last for India

Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube channel on November 3, 2026 that Bhuvneshwar Kumar has played his last for India after the pacer struggled in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand. Ashwin voiced his view following Bhuvneshwar's return to the national side, which did not match his recent domestic form.

Bhuvneshwar had forced his way back into the T20I squad on the back of two strong Indian Premier League seasons, notably taking 28 wickets in 16 matches for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2026. He had not played an international match for India since November 2022 before that recall. Observers and Ashwin pointed to boundary distances in the series as a factor that perhaps prevented him from bowling his usual fuller lengths, which prompted him to bowl shorter deliveries that New Zealand batters could attack.

The pacer’s series figures reflected those struggles: his first outing saw him concede 49 runs in four overs without a wicket. In the second T20I he picked up his only wicket of the series, dismissing Daryl Mitchell, but still gave away 50 runs, and the third match produced a wicketless 40 runs. He missed the fourth T20I, returned for the final match where he again failed to take a wicket and was taken for 41 runs, finishing the series with just one wicket and an economy rate of 11.50.

Ashwin was particularly concerned by the gulf between Bhuvneshwar’s IPL performances and his showing in the New Zealand series. "Bhuvneshwar Kumar hasn't bowled that well; he didn't prove his form," Ashwin said. "There was a night and day difference between his IPL form and here (New Zealand series). I think that chapter is maybe closed. It's very difficult. How will he come back?" he added.

Beyond raw returns, Ashwin highlighted changes in Bhuvneshwar's on-field mechanics and intensity. "Leave performance, leave giving extra runs. It's not that. What was disappointing, I felt the way he bowls in the IPL - the intensity, his run-up speed was lower, and his bowling speed was also lower. That tells me maybe he didn't come in prime training form for this series," Ashwin said.

The former spinner also warned that Bhuvneshwar's experience could count against him when selection is considered. "If that's the condition, the selectors will also think, 'Is this the way'? If you're a new kid or a young boy, you'll get ten chances. But you're an experienced guy coming back," he added. Ashwin framed that contrast as a selection issue rather than a question of potential.

Bhuvneshwar has been one of the country's leading white-ball pacers, but after a difficult comeback series his hopes of extending his international career have taken a significant hit.