Ashwin says Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar could bowl together at next year’s World Cup after seamer’s India recall

Former India spinner R Ashwin said on his YouTube channel on October 7, 2026 that he can envisage Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowling together for India at next year’s World Cup, after Bhuvneshwar was recalled to the national T20I squad for the upcoming New Zealand tour.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar had been absent from India duty since the T20 World Cup semi-final against England in Adelaide in November 2022, and the 36-year-old has returned to contention following strong performances in the IPL. Ashwin noted Bhuvneshwar’s consistency for Royal Challengers Bengaluru over the past two seasons as a key factor in the comeback; the seamer took 45 wickets across the 2025 and 2026 IPL campaigns and was part of RCB’s title triumphs during that period. In the 2026 IPL season specifically, Bhuvneshwar finished with 28 wickets and an economy rate of 7.95.

Commenting on Bhuvneshwar’s career trajectory, Ashwin said: "I am very excited and happy for Bhuvneshwar Kumar because he is a very unassuming guy. And yes, I am once again putting my neck on the line to say this: if he had worked a little harder, if the timing had been right and if he had avoided those injuries, with the skill set he possesses, he could have been a king for India across all formats."

Ashwin outlined the specific skills he believes Bhuvneshwar still possesses, adding: "Do you want swing? He has swing. If you want it to move one way, he can do that. If you want it to move both ways, he can do that too. And then he has decent pace." He also referenced the seamer’s batting and fielding attributes: "Yes, when he played a couple of games in Australia, he was also finding it a little difficult. But he had some fitness issues. With the bat, he could contribute really well. He has very, very good hands and is a good catcher." "I feel he could have given Indian cricket even more across formats," said Ashwin.

On the immediate selector outlook, Ashwin said Bhuvneshwar’s performances in New Zealand could push him back into the ODI side quickly: "He is going to New Zealand now. I am telling you, if he does well, everyone will immediately say, just take him for the ODI team as well. The selectors will be watching very closely." He added: "If he swings the ball and shows decent fitness, nobody can stop Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar from sitting together on that flight to the World Cup and Bhuvneshwar bowling the first ball of the World Cup."

Ashwin pointed to recent problems in India’s bowling performances as a rationale for recalling experience, noting the runs conceded in a home series: "Look at how they are getting hit in this series against the West Indies. They need experience in the bowling department. Be careful. If you go to South Africa and bowl half-heartedly, they will absolutely roast you." He described the T20 call-up as a conservative selection move: "So, having got that idea, they have thought, 'Okay, let's put Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the T20 team as a kind of fixed deposit at 6 percent.'"

Addressing potential squad continuity beyond the T20 fixtures, Ashwin set out a hypothetical scenario for Bhuvneshwar’s retention and ODI involvement: "Let's say this continues. Now imagine there is a setback in New Zealand. I am just saying hypothetically. If required, I feel they might even retain Bhuvneshwar after the T20 series. Then we will see what happens in the ODI series. It will be interesting," said Ashwin.

Ashwin’s remarks arrive ahead of India’s five-match T20I series in New Zealand, which will begin on October 22, and he indicated selectors will be monitoring Bhuvneshwar’s fitness and form during that tour.