Bhuvneshwar Kumar recently looked back at some of the most difficult moments of his international career during a conversation with Jatin Sapru on The Long Off Show. Among several topics, the veteran pacer was asked to compare India’s semi-final defeats in the 2019 ODI World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup.
The two defeats came in different circumstances, but both remained memorable setbacks for the Indian team. Bhuvneshwar revealed which loss hurt him more and explained why he felt it was particularly difficult to accept.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar picks the defeat that hurt the most
When Sapru asked him which semi-final loss was more heartbreaking, Bhuvneshwar chose the 2019 World Cup defeat against New Zealand. He felt the circumstances made that loss harder to digest. According to the pacer, India were chasing a manageable ODI target and there was a strong expectation that they would get through to the final. However, New Zealand produced a disciplined bowling performance after the rain-affected match resumed the following day, leaving India 18 runs short of the target.
Bhuvneshwar felt the 2022 defeat against England carried a different feeling because it came in the T20 format, where matches can change quickly. He also reflected on how the weather interruption in 2019 may have affected the conditions when the game resumed, although he admitted there was no way of knowing whether that ultimately changed the result.
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Bhuvneshwar opens up on India comeback hopes
The 36-year-old also spoke about his desire to represent India again. After taking 17 wickets for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2025 and 28 wickets in the 2026 season, Bhuvneshwar believes he is ready if another opportunity comes his way. He remains open to playing in the 2027 ODI World Cup but said he is no longer playing with the need to prove himself.
The pacer also reflected on Virat Kohli’s leadership, recalling how the Indian dressing room initially took time to adjust to Kohli’s intense approach to fitness and diet. Bhuvneshwar also spoke about his experiences playing under MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma and Kohli, while reflecting on RCB’s title-winning campaigns and his strong rapport with Kohli.
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