Bhuvneshwar Kumar in 2027 ODI World Cup India squad: Stellar IPL 2026 campaign has brought back veteran pacer in mainstream conversation

Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s IPL 2026 revival has reopened the conversation about his inclusion in India’s 2027 ODI World Cup squad in South Africa. The 35-year-old right-arm pacer last played an ODI for India in January 2022, and selectors were widely expected to prioritise younger options. Instead, his sustained success for Royal Challengers Bengaluru has brought him back into mainstream selection talk. In IPL 2026, he took 28 wickets in 16 matches, averaging 17.89 and conceding at 7.95. He was also crucial in the final, taking two wickets to help RCB beat Gujarat Titans. Support for a recall has come from Ravichandran Ashwin and Dinesh Karthik, while South Africa’s seam-friendly conditions strengthen the case.