Bhuvneshwar Kumar has opened up about Virat Kohli’s impact on India’s Test team, saying that the former captain brought a strong focus on fitness and diet to the dressing room. Bhuvneshwar said that some players initially questioned the demanding routine but later understood its importance.
The 36-year-old fast bowler has been out of the Indian team since November 2022. He can be in contention for a T20I return for India after back-to-back IPL title-winning seasons with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). His recent performances have renewed calls for his return to the national setup.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar Recalls Virat Kohli’s Fitness Revolution in Test Cricket
Virat Kohli took over as India’s Test captain during the 2014-15 tour of Australia after MS Dhoni retired from the format. One of his first priorities was to build a stronger fitness culture, with greater focus on conditioning and diet across the squad.
Speaking on sports presenter Jatin Sapru’s YouTube channel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar said the players needed time to understand Kohli’s approach. The fast bowler stated that fitness and diet became regular topics after Kohli took charge.
“When Virat Kohli took over as the Indian Test captain, it took us a few series to understand his thinking and his intent. The moment he took over in Australia, he started talking about fitness and diet culture, there were few who raised questions on what’s the need of it, but down the line everyone came on the same page that it was indeed needed,” Bhuvneshwar said.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar Enjoyed Success Across Formats Under Virat Kohli
Bhuvneshwar Kumar became an important part of India’s bowling attack during Kohli’s captaincy. He took 38 wickets in 13 Tests at an average of 26.55 and an economy rate of 2.94, while his ability to move the ball made him particularly effective in overseas conditions.
His standout Test performance came during India’s 2018 tour of South Africa. Bhuvneshwar won the Player of the Match award in the Johannesburg Test after taking four wickets and making valuable contributions with the bat. He also averaged 20.48 with the bat in Tests under Kohli.
The pacer was equally effective in white-ball cricket. He claimed 78 wickets in 55 ODIs at an average of 29.96 and an economy rate of 5.17 under Kohli. He also took 20 wickets in 26 T20Is, maintaining an economy rate of 7.00.
RCB Success Puts Bhuvneshwar Kumar Back in India T20I Talks
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has recently returned to the spotlight after two strong IPL seasons with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He played a key role in RCB’s title-winning campaigns in 2025 and 2026. The pacer took 17 wickets in 2025 and bagged 28 wickets in 16 matches in 2026.
His performances have led to renewed calls for his return to India’s T20I setup. Bhuvneshwar also led Lucknow Falcons to the UPT20 final, where they lost to Rinku Singh’s Meerut Mavericks. His recent performances have kept him in the conversation despite his absence from international cricket.
The veteran pacer last played for India in November 2022 during the T20I series against New Zealand in Napier. Since then, his consistent performances have strengthened the case for another opportunity in the national team.
Also read: BCCI reveals Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s India comeback timeline