Why Bhuvneshwar Kumar's shock India recall shows that life begins at 30 for fast bowlers

In 2022, Bhuvneshwar Kumar last played an international match for India, a year when his career seemed to be at an end. England had demoralized him in the T20 World Cup semi-final, dismissing him for just 25 runs in two overs. His lack of pace with the new ball, coupled with the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, led to him being pushed out of the team.

Mohammad Siraj took his place and formed a formidable pace trio with Bumrah and Mohammad Shami, leading India to victory in the ODI World Cup, while they narrowly lost the final to Australia. Since then, India has won several T20 World Cups, Asia Cups, Asian Games T20 gold medals, and the 50-over Champions Trophy.

Now, fast-forward to 2023, Bhuvneshwar resurfaced in the Indian T20 team at the age of 36 for a tour of New Zealand. He had to hone his fitness and recalibrate his game for the shortest format, eventually becoming the most lethal 20-over pacer in the country. His success since then has mirrored the struggles of the younger generation of Indian fast bowlers, with few making the transition from the T20 to other formats.

Many experienced bowlers, such as Siraj and Arshdeep Singh, are struggling, with only a few like Bumrah and Shami considered first-choice picks.

This resurgence of Bhuvneshwar is indicative of a broader trend in international cricket, where top-ranked fast bowlers across formats are well into their 30s while most of the best batters are in their mid-20s. Fast bowling demands extensive legwork, and bowlers usually acquire this through playing red-ball, multi-day cricket. Veterans have the experience to adapt to different match situations and conditions.

The younger generation, however, has not developed this comprehensive skill set yet. Consequently, teams are relying on their older fast bowlers for as long as physically possible, with the exception of Bangladesh, which boasts a highly promising young bowling attack.