Veteran Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has not been included in the ICC Cricket World Cup squad which will be played in India later this year. However, he is not entirely focused on making a return to the national team but he is more interested in making the most of his time left as a fast bowler. The veteran was not added to Team India squad in the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. Notably, he was one of Team India’s main white-ball bowlers soon after making his debut in late 2012. But with Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and other emerging pacers’ entry, he fell behind in the race as well.
He was last seen in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 for the Sunrisers Hyderabad, claiming 16 wickets in 14 matches at an economy rate of 8.33. Bhuvneshwar recently opined on about how he is looking at the final phase of his career as well.
He said in an interview with The National: “When you are at a stage when you know you are going to play only for a few more years – being a fast bowler – it hits you and you want to enjoy cricket. I am at that stage now. Yes I am not part of the Indian team, but this does not bother me. It’s not that I am trying something different or planning anything new to come back. I am just focusing on playing cricket.”
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“I am not playing just to make a comeback. I am doing what is needed to play good cricket,” he further added. “There might be a chance to make a comeback [to the Indian team]. But that is not my focus. Whatever format or leagues I play, I want to contribute. If things fall into place, I can make a comeback but that is not my sole focus now.”
However, inspired by the success in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, the state of Uttar Pradesh has hosted a state T20 league that features six teams and began on August 30 as well.
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“We needed this in UP. UP is such a big state. Even if you have very good trials and selection matches, it is always limited. This league will help in finding talent. Because seeing a player in the nets and during matches are two different things,” he said.”There is a sense of security that comes with the finances that come with these leagues. This is at an early stage, but I am sure in a few years these leagues will provide players financial security on their own. These leagues are a great chance to get spotted. IPL scouts do watch these leagues, and it is good chance to get spotted, rather than Syed Mushtaq Ali. So players know if they are not part of the state teams, they can still get selected for an IPL team,” Bhuvneshwar Kumar concluded.
