Bhuvneshwar Kumar reveals why he wears jersery number 78 instead of no. 15 since India comeback

Bhuvneshwar Kumar‘s return to the Indian cricket team brought a welcome sight for his fans, but it also came with a small surprise. The experienced fast bowler, traditionally associated with jersey No. 15, was seen wearing No. 78 during India’s first T20I on the 2026 tour of New Zealand.

The change quickly caught the attention of cricket followers, many of whom have associated Bhuvneshwar with the number 15 throughout his international career. While the jersey number was different, the bigger story was his return to the field as a premier seamer after nearly four years away from international cricket.

There is also an interesting numerical connection between his new and old jersey numbers.

Why did Bhuvneshwar Kumar change his jersey number?

The primary reason behind the change is that Bhuvneshwar’s preferred jersey number, 15, is currently assigned to fellow Indian fast bowler Gurnoor Brar.

During Bhuvneshwar’s absence from the national team, the number became associated with Brar. Consequently, when the senior pacer returned to India’s T20I setup, he wore No. 78 instead of reclaiming his familiar number.

The situation highlights a small but interesting aspect of international cricket: a player’s jersey number can become associated with another member of the squad during an extended absence.

Bhuvneshwar’s return was an important development for India’s pace-bowling options, particularly given his experience with the new ball and his ability to generate swing. His change of jersey number was therefore a talking point alongside the much bigger news of his comeback.

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The interesting connection between Bhuvneshwar’s jersey number 78 and no. 15

Although Bhuvneshwar’s new jersey looks different, it has a simple mathematical connection to his old number.

Add the two digits in 78 and the result is 15:

7 + 8 = 15 and 15 adds up to 6 which is his favourite number.

The coincidence caught the attention of fans who have followed Bhuvneshwar throughout his career.

“There was a logic behind choosing the jersey number. The digits added up to six because one plus five is six. I tried quite a few numbers, but most of them were already taken by other players, so this was the only number left. I think that’s why I chose it (new jersey no. – 78). I was used to seeing the number 15 alongside my name as B. Kumar, so it didn’t immediately feel like my jersey. It took me a while to get used to the fact that this was my jersey and that I was going to wear it,” said Bhuvneshwar in a video shared by bcci.tv.

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