Why Bhuvneshwar Kumar not picked in the Indian team? Aakash Chopra explains

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra believes that the selectors have moved on from Bhuvneshwar Kumar and are not considering him for any format in the future. Despite a stellar performance in IPL 2026, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was not selected for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England; furthermore, when Mohammed Siraj was recently rested, Prasidh Krishna was chosen instead—clearly indicating that the selectors have moved past Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

"Bhuvneshwar Kumar's non-selection. Is this the end of his career? In fact, Prasidh Krishna has been picked in place of Mohammed Siraj because they are trying to do a little workload management. There was an opportunity earlier as well, when they were selecting, and now also, as you had to replace someone, but Bhuvneshwar Kumar is not that guy," Chopra said on his YouTube channel. 

Chopra further remarked that had Bhuvneshwar Kumar been selected for the England tour, he could have performed well there, as English pitches are known to assist seam bowlers, and Bhuvi is considered one of the world's best in seam and swing bowling.

"Never say never is what we all say, but if you are not selecting him even now, when you have rested Siraj, and this was a chance in Ireland and England, where the ball moves a little more and there is help for fast bowlers, perhaps the right time to give one more opportunity to Bhuvneshwar Kumar, but if he hasn't got a chance here, the road ahead is closed," he observed. 

Chopra described Bhuvneshwar Kumar's non-selection as heartbreaking. He said that he himself had wanted Bhuvi to be selected, but it did not happen.

"It may sound very harsh. It may sound heartbreaking because I only had said that he should be played, that he is absolutely ready, and you make so many changes due to workload management, and that we have fast bowlers, but not so many that you can't play Bhuvi one or two series. I was not talking about the World Cup. We don't know what would happen in 2028," he said. 

Aakash Chopra believes the selectors may have decided to back younger players. They have dropped Suryakumar Yadav from the T20I team and are repeatedly overlooking Mohammed Shami, clearly signalling that the focus has shifted to youngsters.

“However, the Indian selectors have said they are only looking towards the future, that they won't take two steps back, and then move forward. Suryakumar Yadav is not part of that list, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar's non-selection, just like Mohammad Shami's non-selections thus far, implies Bhuvi is in the same list," Chopra observed. 

Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked 28 wickets in IPL 2026, and played a pivotal role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s title triumph.