Sanjay Manjrekar endorses Bhuvneshwar Kumar's timely return to Indian T20I team

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar praised Bhuvneshwar Kumar's comeback to the Indian T20I squad after nearly four years, highlighting that his return should have occurred sooner due to his impressive performances. Bhuvneshwar earned his recall following two successful IPL seasons with Royal Challengers Bangalore, especially in 2026 when he took 28 wickets in 16 matches with an average of 17.89 and economy of 7.95. Manjrekar emphasized that performing well as a bowler in IPL under Indian conditions warrants immediate selection for the national side. He also commended Bhuvneshwar's tactical intelligence and skill bowling a narrow channel and attacking the stumps, making him a valuable asset against modern batters. The selectors were applauded for bringing back a consistent and effective pacer who contributed significantly to IPL title wins.