Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has expressed that veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar was not treated fairly in the Indian cricket team. Kaif opined that Bhuvneshwar was dropped prematurely and deserved a much longer run at the highest level.
Highlighting Bhuvneshwar’s recent performances, Kaif pointed out his impressive contribution to Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) title-winning campaign in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL). He also suggested that India still hasn’t found an ideal replacement for the experienced bowler.
Speaking in a live session on his YouTube channel, Kaif said:
“According to me, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was treated unfairly in the Indian team. He was dropped very early. Look at him now too, he came to RCB, and they became the champions. He contributed there too. Questions were raised about his fitness. A fast bowler will go through injuries at some point in his career. That is the time when you need to back him. However, they moved on from Bhuvneshwar Kumar very quickly. India still don’t have a replacement for Bhuvneshwar Kumar.”
Bhuvneshwar was highly sought after at the IPL 2025 mega auction, eventually being signed by RCB for ₹10.75 crore. He finished as the team’s third-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, claiming 17 wickets from 14 matches at an economy rate of 9.28.
The 35-year-old pacer has been absent from the Indian national team since November 2022. Whether he will get another chance to represent India at the highest level remains to be seen.
### “He will play a lot of white-ball cricket” – Mohammad Kaif on Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s IPL future
Kaif also remarked that Bhuvneshwar Kumar would continue to pick up wickets if given another opportunity in international cricket. He noted that the seamer is unlikely to retire from the IPL anytime soon, focusing primarily on white-ball formats due to fitness considerations.
In the same video, Kaif added:
“I feel that if he gets a chance to play, he will still pick up wickets. He doesn’t want to play Test matches because of his body and has been focusing on white-ball cricket. He will play a lot of white-ball cricket. He just had his best year, where he played a role in RCB’s victory.”
It is worth noting that Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the second-highest wicket-taker in IPL history, with 198 wickets from 190 innings at an impressive economy rate of 7.69. His experience and skill continue to make him a valuable asset in the league and potentially for the Indian team in the white-ball formats.
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