“I haven’t thought about retirement yet”: Bhuvneshwar Kumar on continuous Team India snub

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Veteran Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has made it clear that he has no plans to retire from cricket, despite being sidelined from Team India since 2022. The swing bowler, who continues to perform in domestic tournaments and the IPL, emphasized that as long as he is fit, he will keep playing and contributing on the field.

In a recent interview during the UP T20 League, Bhuvneshwar addressed speculation about his future in cricket.

“I am enjoying my bowling. I haven’t thought about retirement yet. As long as I am fit, I will keep playing, the rest is the job of the selectors,” he told Dainik Jagran.

The 35-year-old pacer stressed that his responsibility is to give his best whenever he takes the field, and he remains hopeful that consistent performances in domestic and franchise cricket will eventually be noticed.

Even though he has been out of the national team setup, Bhuvneshwar has impressed in both domestic circuits and the IPL. In the UP T20 League, he grabbed nine wickets in eight matches, maintaining an economy rate of under seven runs per over.

His experience and skill were also pivotal in RCB’s historic maiden IPL title win in 2025, where he claimed 17 wickets in 14 matches. These numbers underline his ability to remain effective in high-pressure environments and against world-class batters.

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Since his last appearance for India in 2022, Bhuvneshwar has been overlooked by selectors despite solid domestic form. Reflecting on this, he admitted, “No matter how well you perform, sometimes luck does not favour you.”

However, the pacer is not disheartened. He continues to focus on his fitness, skillset, and contributions to domestic cricket, while leaving the decision of a possible national comeback to the selectors.

For now, Bhuvi committed to the game, with his immediate priorities being domestic tournaments and franchise cricket, where his experience and swing bowling continue to make an impact. He reaffirmed that he will keep striving as long as his body allows him to, steering clear of retirement discussions.

With India preparing for major assignments, including the 2025 Asia Cup and the 2027 ODI World Cup cycle, his statement has reassured fans that the seasoned pacer is not done yet.

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