In IPL 2010, he took 16 wickets, the highest among all pace bowlers in the tournament,[10][11] leading to his selection to play for India in the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies.

[12][13] In May 2010, after India's elimination from the ICC World Twenty20, Vinay Kumar made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe in Harare, taking 2/51 off eight overs in a six-wicket defeat.

[15] Vinay Kumar returned to the Indian team in October 2010,[16] playing in one ODI of India's three-match series against Australia and taking 0/71 off nine overs.

[17] In 2011, Vinay Kumar joined Kochi Tuskers Kerala for the franchise's first and only season in the IPL, having been bought for US$475,000 in the pre-season auction.

[21] In December, at the age of 27, he was called into India's Test squad for the first time as a replacement for the injured Varun Aaron for the 2011–12 tour of Australia.

His opportunity came as India chose to take four pace bowlers into the match, which caused him to be selected ahead of spinner R Ashwin.

Cricketing website ESPNcricinfo compares Vinay Kumar's style of bowling to that of Venkatesh Prasad, saying that he relies "more on outswingers, legcutters and accuracy, than on outright pace".

[26] His lack of pace in his Test debut against Australia in January 2012—bowling at 120 kilometres per hour in his opening spell—was criticised by former Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram as "disappointing".