Sports
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s Return Fueled by Rigorous Training and Diet
After India’s exit from the 2022 T20 World Cup semi‑final, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was dropped from the national team following a tour of New Zealand. His 37 T20I wickets in 2022 remain the most by an Indian bowler in a calendar year. Kumar’s comeback began with a renewed partnership with his physiotherapist, Ramneesh Vohra, and personal trainer Surya Yadav. Vohra, a BCCI‑qualified physiotherapist, recalls that the pair met regularly for months without discussing the reasons for Kumar’s absence. In a conversation, Kumar expressed a desire to regain the confidence and swing that had made him a feared bowler a decade earlier.
Kumar’s training focused on restoring his swing rather than increasing pace. Vohra handled joint mobility and strengthening, while Yadav worked on technical aspects such as foot placement. The effort paid off during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s successful IPL campaign, where Kumar took 45 wickets at an economy rate below nine, the best among all pacers in the league.
Kumar’s physical transformation is notable: he has reduced his weight from 80 kg with 22‑25 % body fat to 75 kg with 16 % body fat, a change he attributes to a strict diet of zero sugar, zero gluten and zero lactose over the past six years.
The renewed fitness and skill earned Kumar a place in India’s T20I squad for the New Zealand tour, his first international appearance since November 2022. The selection comes as India prepares for the 50‑over World Cup, with Kumar’s experience and improved swing seen as valuable assets.
Former Uttar Pradesh seamer Ashish Winston Zaidi praised Kumar’s comeback, noting that a focus on swing, line and length has revitalised his bowling. Vohra and Yadav continue to train Kumar in a close, brother‑like partnership, keeping their work away from social media and often training at each other’s homes.
Kumar’s return marks a significant moment, as he had missed 105 T20I matches between his first and second appearances, the most for an Indian between two national team selections. He remains the highest wicket‑taker among Indian pacers in all T20s, with 363 wickets to his name.