Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has strongly backed Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a return to India’s T20I squad after the veteran pacer produced a match-winning performance for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026. Bhuvneshwar played a massive role in RCB’s dramatic two-wicket victory in Raipur, finishing with outstanding figures of 4/23 before later smashing a crucial six during the tense final over of the chase. His all-round contribution not only helped Bengaluru pull off one of the season’s most thrilling wins but also reignited conversations around his future with the Indian T20I side.

Racvichandran Ashwin was full of praise for the experienced swing bowler and openly called for his comeback to India’s white-ball setup. Speaking on JioStar after the match, the former spinner highlighted Bhuvneshwar’s ability to deliver in every phase of a T20 game. “Hashtag ‘BringBackBhuvi’. I’d love to see him being considered for the T20I side. Tick with the new ball, able to complete the death overs nicely, and if you need a six under pressure, he’s hammering that as well,” Ashwin said.

The veteran pacer completely changed the momentum of the game during his opening spell. Bowling on a surface offering movement and uneven bounce, Bhuvneshwar dismantled Mumbai’s top order by dismissing Ryan Rickelton, Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav with exceptional control and smart variations.

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Ashwin especially admired the way Bhuvneshwar quickly recognised the conditions and adjusted his lengths accordingly.

“That was proper Test-match bowling after he realised there was something in the surface. He keeps testing you as an opening batter. To dismiss Rohit Sharma with that peach, a slower ball that just swung, was quite incredible,” Ravichandran Ashwin observed.

The former India spinner also appreciated Bhuvneshwar’s discipline in the death overs, saying the seamer focused entirely on execution instead of chasing personal milestones. “And later on, he was selfless enough to execute the yorker when he could have gone for a fourth wicket. Extremely happy for him,” he added.

Ashwin also reserved special praise for Krunal Pandya, whose composed 73 under pressure rescued RCB after an early collapse during the chase. The all-rounder anchored the innings brilliantly on a difficult pitch and guided Bengaluru home in dramatic fashion.

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“With Krunal Pandya — we know HR managers and project managers, but that was proper ‘pressure management’. If you need one, please dial K for Krunal Pandya,” Ravichandran Ashwin joked.

Ashwin further stated that RCB remains a strong contender in IPL 2026 despite a few concerns around Romario Shepherd’s inconsistency. However, he urged the franchise to stay patient with the explosive all-rounder, believing his match-winning abilities could still become crucial later in the tournament.