Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has said that star Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar could have become
an all-format legend. His comments came after the pacer was called up for the T20I series against New Zealand, starting on October 22 in Christchurch, having last played for India in November 2022 as well.

During a discussion on his YouTube channel (Ash Ki Baat), Ashwin said: “Bhuvneshwar Kumar had so much skill that he could have been an all-format legend. He could bat even in Test matches. In Indian conditions, you need a seam bowler who can swing the ball and can also contribute with the bat lower down the order. I just feel somewhere in between, Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s fitness was a bit of a letdown for him. Otherwise, there is no doubt in my mind that he could have become a legend across all three formats. But never mind, as they say, it’s better late than never. He should have made this comeback, and it has happened now. This is good for Indian cricket.”

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“With the new ball, I’m still saying that you can take Arshdeep as well, you can take anyone. Apart from Jasprit Bumrah, India’s finest new-ball bowler in the last couple of decades could well be Bhuvneshwar Kumar because he can swing the ball both ways and can bat as well,” he shared.

However, Ravichandran Ashwin said that Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s comeback has come after Ajit Agarkar’s tenure as chief selector ended. He added that during this time, Agarkar may have wanted to take a different approach by focusing on young players rather than looking back at experienced players as well.

“Obviously, the chairman of selectors is going to change now. Ajit is no longer a part of the game. Perhaps during Ajit’s chairmanship, he may have thought, ‘I want to take a new direction. I want to look at new, young players. I don’t want to go back in time.’ That could have been his philosophy,” he concluded.