In the high stakes arena IPL 2026where youthful exuberance often steals the headlines, veteran sailor Bhuvneshwar Kumar master class proved that his skills are limitless. After a breathtaking four-cap run Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a thrilling last ball victory over Mumbai Indians (MI)the legendary off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin threw its weight behind the Bring Back Bhuvi movement.
Speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Match Center Live’, Ashwin didn’t just praise the pace; he made a convincing case for Bhuvneshwar’s return to the Indian T20I setup.
Ravichandran Ashwin urges Indian selectors to recall Bhuvneshwar Kumar after his stunning spell against MI.
Now 36, Bhuvneshwar is currently spearheading a revival that mirrors his legendary Purple Cap winning years. On a Raipur surface characterized by uneven bounce and fine grip, the veteran dismantled the MI top order with surgical precision. His figures of 4/23 included valuable scalps Rohit Sharmatrademark dismissal, deceptive knuckleball and Suryakumar Yadav to duck the first ball.
Ashwin was particularly impressed with Bhuvneshwar’s adaptability and described his performance as “proper Test-match bowling” in the T20 format. Apart from the wickets, it was Bhuvneshwar’s all-round contribution that sealed the game for RCB. In an unnecessarily tight 167, the seamer eased the earlier pressure by hitting a crucial six in the final over. Rasikh Salaam Dar score the winning runs.
“Hashtag ‘BringBackBhuvi, I’d love to see him drafted for the T20I side. He ticks every box: deadly with the new ball, disciplined at the death and capable of hitting sixes even under extreme pressure.“,” Ashwin remarked enthusiastically.
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Leadership, logic and the growth of RCB
The victory was not without obstacles. RCB’s chase stuttered early, especially with Virat Kohli falls for the second consecutive golden duck. Heroically, he took 73 off 46 balls in the counter-attack Krunal Pandya to keep the ship steady. Ashwin praised Krunal’s pressure management, jokingly comparing his effectiveness to that of a senior project manager.
The win took RCB to the top of the IPL 2026 points table with 14 points, but also ended Mumbai Indians’ playoff dreams. MI is joining now Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) such teams were officially excluded from the competition.
Despite the euphoria, Ashwin pointed out areas that needed improvement, particularly Romario Shepherd’s form. However, he advised the RCB management to be patient. “When you have the luxury of sitting at the head of the table, you can invest in a player like Shepherd. If he turns it on in a big game, that patience will pay off“, he added.
As the tournament winds down, the narrative rests firmly on Bhuvneshwar. With 21 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 15.28, the seamer not only leads RCB’s attack; it makes a loud, undeniable statement to the national electorate. It remains to be seen whether the Indian team management will heed Ashwin’s call, but for now, ‘Bhuvi’ is the undisputed king of swing.
Also WATCH: Krunal Pandya gets emotional as he recalls unforgettable MI memories after RCB’s dramatic win.
