Why Bhuvneshwar Kumar's Comeback For IND Vs NZ T20I Series Is Not Good News For RCB
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has made a well deserved return to the national set up for the first time since 2022. The 36-year-old was named in India's squad for the 5-match T20I series against New Zealand, ending his near four-year exile. Kumar's return comes on the back of stellar performances with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He picked up 45 wickets in 30 games over the last two seasons, helping the…
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has returned to the Indian national squad for the first time since 2022, marking his debut in the 5-match T20I series against New Zealand. The 36-year-old's return follows stellar performances with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), where he claimed 45 wickets in 30 games over the past two seasons, contributing to their consecutive IPL titles.
While Kumar is likely to be retained by RCB ahead of the IPL 2027 deadline, his return complicates matters for the franchise beyond the upcoming season. The new ball has gotten its favorite player back, swinging the scales in New Zealand's favor. RCB paid a hefty ₹10.75 crore to sign Kumar in the last mega auction, and he will undoubtedly be retained for the upcoming season.
However, his eligibility for a future retention becomes uncertain due to the uncapped retention rule. Introduced ahead of the IPL 2025 auction, this rule allows players who haven't played international cricket for over five years to be considered uncapped. If Kumar, who hadn't played for India in four years, had been called up, he would have been eligible for a retention at a significantly lower price during the 2028 mega auction.
His reintroduction to the Indian team offsets this loophole, leaving RCB with a dilemma as they prepare for the 2028 auction.
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