'I have always prepared myself for all three formats' - Bhuvneshwar Kumar quashes rumours of not wanting to play Test cricket

India’s pace merchant Bhuvneshwar Kumar hasn’t featured in a Test match since January 2018. Multiple injuries kept the 31-year-old away from the purest format of the game as in the past two years he has been going in and out of the team. However, earlier this year, despite being fit, Bhuvneshwar was ignored for the four-match home Test series against England.

The same was followed by the decorated speedster not finding a place in India’s 20-member squad for the final of WTC against New Zealand followed by the five-match Test series against England. Bhuvi’s exclusion from the Indian squad in the purest format of the game raised a lot of eyebrows in the cricket fraternity considering the 31-year-old has a stunning 63 wickets in just 21 Test matches.

Earlier today, a controversy rocked the cricket world as the sources suggested that Bhuvneshwar hasn’t been included in the Test squad as he doesn’t want to play the longest format anymore. The report suggested that the right-arm pacer is focusing on T20I cricket more.

“[Bhuvneshwar Kumar is] focusing on the next T20 opportunities coming up…Bhuvneshwar just doesn’t want to play Test cricket anymore. That drive has gone missing. To be honest, the selectors don’t even see Bhuvi hungry for 10 overs, forget Test cricket. It’s Team India’s loss no doubt because if one bowler should have made it to England, it should have been him,” said the source.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar clears his stance on Twitter

The news soon went viral on social media with many criticizing Bhuvneshwar Kumar for abandoning the Test format. Seeing the news being widely circulated, the Meerut-born finally broke his silence on the issue as he took to his official Twitter handle to offer a clarification. 

With a tweet on his official Twitter handle, Bhuvneshwar clarified that he has always prepared for all three formats of the game and will always be ready to feature in all the matches irrespective of the format. He further lashed out at the news agencies for writing their assumptions and naming them as sources.

“There have been articles about me not wanting to play Test cricket. Just to clarify, I have always prepared myself for all three formats irrespective of the team selection and will continue to do the same. Suggestion – please don’t write your assumptions based on “sources”!”

There have been articles about me not wanting to play Test cricket. Just to clarify, I have always prepared myself for all three formats irrespective of the team selection and will continue to do the same.
Suggestion – please don’t write your assumptions based on “sources”!

— Bhuvneshwar Kumar (@BhuviOfficial) May 15, 2021