‘Absolutely ready’: Bhuvneshwar Kumar on playing in 2027 World Cup,’rest is selectors’ call’

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the veteran Indian pacer, is open to the possibility of being recalled to the national ODI squad and participating in the 2027 World Cup. This call for his return has been growing since his impressive season in the 2026 IPL, which coincided with the injury woes of key fast bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah.

However, Kumar's primary focus remains on performing at his best for the team he is currently representing, in this case, the Lucknow Falcons in the UPT20 League. Reflecting on the potential World Cup selection, Kumar stated that if he receives a call, he would be "absolutely ready." He emphasized that his role is to play cricket, and that is why he joined the UP T20 League.

Kumar clarified that his intentions upon joining the league were not to secure a spot in another team or league, but rather to continue his cricket journey.

Despite his past international appearances dwindling due to injuries, Bhuvneshwar's career in limited-overs cricket has been put on hold since a T20I in November 2022. His last ODI was played in January of that year. While there are voices such as Ravi Shastri, Dinesh Karthik, and Ravichandran Ashwin advocating for his inclusion in the ODI squad, Kumar remains focused on his upcoming matches and his aim to play as much cricket as possible.

He has not made any definitive decisions regarding his participation in the upcoming Ranji Trophy or first-class matches.