"Comeback thoroughly deserved": Raina celebrates Bhuvneshwar's return
Former India batter Suresh Raina celebrates Bhuvneshwar Kumar's long-awaited return to the Indian T20I squad, praising his resilience and skill.
Former Indian batter Suresh Raina has expressed his immense joy regarding Bhuvneshwar Kumar's return to the Indian T20I squad, calling the pacer's comeback a well-earned reward for his relentless dedication.
After a significant hiatus from the shortest format, the seasoned seamer is set to rejoin the national side, marking a triumphant return to the international stage.
A Journey of Resilience
Raina, taking to social media, lauded the skill and mental strength shown by the 36-year-old bowler. He noted that Bhuvneshwar's path—spanning from his roots in Uttar Pradesh to his impactful stints in the IPL and finally back to the national team—serves as a profound inspiration for aspiring athletes.
"Welcome back, Bhuvi! So happy to see one of India’s finest and most skilful bowlers getting his recognition again. The discipline, hard work and resilience he has shown over the years is truly inspiring. From Uttar Pradesh to the IPL, and now back in the Indian T20 side — this comeback is thoroughly deserved. Keep inspiring, @BhuviOfficial. Your journey is a reminder that hard work always finds its way back," wrote Raina.
End of a Long Wait
Bhuvneshwar Kumar's T20I career had been on hold since the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final against England in Adelaide. However, a string of consistent and impressive performances in the IPL proved that the veteran still possesses the craft required for international cricket.
The statistics backing his expertise are formidable. Kumar has participated in 229 matches across all formats, securing 294 wickets at a notable average of 29.50, including seven five-wicket hauls.
Upcoming Tour Schedule and Squad
The Indian team is scheduled to begin its upcoming tour with a series of five T20Is starting from October 22. This will be followed by five ODIs and two Test matches.
India’s T20I Squad:
- Shreyas Iyer (Captain)
- Abhishek Sharma
- Sanju Samson (WK)
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
- Ishan Kishan (WK)
- Tilak Varma (VC)
- Axar Patel
- Shivam Dube
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Naman Dhir
- Prince Yadav
- Mayank Yadav
- Arshdeep Singh
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Varun Chakaravarthy
- Kuldeep Yadav