India fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar believes staying focused on his work without putting pressure on himself to return to the national team was key to navigating his four-year absence from international cricket.
The experienced pacer, who recently returned to India’s T20I setup, said the period away from international cricket helped him mature as a person and player.
Despite being out of the national side, he continued to work on his fitness, skills and mental preparation while concentrating on the opportunities available to him.
Speaking in a video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Bhuvneshwar explained that remaining in the present and letting go of expectations had shaped his approach over the past three to four years.
“The headspace I am in is very simple. I have no expectations of myself. I think that’s how things worked out for me in the last 3-4 years. No expectations; just keep doing your work,” he said.
Bhuvneshwar says he never chased India comeback
Bhuvneshwar returned to the national setup earlier this month after being named as a replacement for the injured Arshdeep Singh for the fifth T20I against the West Indies in Bengaluru. Rain washed out that match, delaying his return to the field in India colours until the first T20I against New Zealand.
The 36-year-old said he had not spent the past four years actively pursuing a comeback, instead allowing his career to develop through consistent work and experience.
“Four years, I never chased this Indian jersey. So honestly, I didn’t even know when those four years would come. I think it evolved big time, and I think IPL has a big role in that,” he said.
Bhuvneshwar added that his time away from the national team had helped him develop greater maturity and taught him the importance of focusing on the present rather than worrying about what might happen next.
IPL and domestic cricket kept him prepared
The Indian Premier League (IPL) and domestic cricket played an important role in keeping Bhuvneshwar connected to competitive cricket during his international absence.
He stressed that having no expectations of an India return did not mean compromising on preparation. The pacer continued to work on every aspect of his game, even when there was no guarantee of another opportunity at the highest level.
“The last two IPLs were like when I went to IPL; there were zero expectations. I had zero expectations from myself either. But it wasn’t like I didn’t prepare. I did all the preparation needed to prepare. From fitness to skills and mental aspects, I did all that,” he said.
Bhuvneshwar also reflected on winning two IPL titles in two years, admitting that the achievements came without him anticipating such an outcome.
Bhuvneshwar on the changing demands of T20 cricket
The veteran seamer also discussed how T20 cricket has evolved, with aggressive batting approaches and increasingly high scores placing greater demands on bowlers.
He pointed to the impact player rule in the IPL as one factor that has encouraged batters to attack from the outset. However, he maintained that bowlers should not view themselves as victims of the format’s aggressive nature.
“I have always believed that we take bowlers as victims. But they are not. I think being a bowler, you can control the game. You can want them to hit where we want. So I think it’s just a perspective,” he said.
According to Bhuvneshwar, the evolution of the game extends beyond franchise competitions to international cricket, where totals of 200 have become increasingly common in the T20 format.
“The game has evolved a lot in the last four years. Not just league cricket. Even international cricket. The way the score is being made. 200 is just a sparse score,” he said.
Bhuvneshwar also highlighted the challenges bowlers face on overseas tours, particularly in SENA countries – South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia – where conditions can test both batters and bowlers.
He said teams must adapt to conditions rather than rely on expectations of assistance for fast bowlers, adding that the modern T20 game demands considerable maturity and tactical awareness.
“Whenever we talk, we talk about very basic things. What are the conditions? What can we do? But what I have realised is that T20 has become such a format where you need a lot of maturity as a bowler,” he said.
The pacer added that winning overseas tournaments carries special significance because of the challenges involved in adapting to unfamiliar conditions and delivering under pressure.
India’s opening win against New Zealand boosts confidence
Bhuvneshwar also spoke about the importance of India’s opening victory in the New Zealand T20I series, saying a strong start can help build confidence for the remainder of an overseas tour.
While acknowledging that the match presented challenges for the bowlers, he praised the batters for their successful chase and said such performances can positively influence the team’s mindset across formats.
“The way we won the first game, I know it was hard on bowlers. But the way the batsmen chased, the team’s confidence is super,” he said.
He added that early success on a tour can create momentum, helping players carry confidence into subsequent matches and strengthening the team’s prospects of winning the series.