Bhuvneshwar Kumar made his return to the India National Cricket Team after almost four years, but his comeback has not gone as expected. Bhuvneshwar Kumar earned India’s recall on the back of his stunning performances in the IPL for RCB and domestic cricket for Uttar Pradesh.
However, the experienced fast bowler’s performances against New Zealand have raised questions about whether he can still deliver for the India National Cricket Team at the international level. Earlier, Tim Southee backs Bhuvneshwar Kumar to make an impact in IND vs NZ T20I series.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s Numbers Since His India Recall Raise Concerns
The Indian selectors and team management have brought Bhuvneshwar Kumar back with hopes that his experience and ability to swing the new ball would strengthen the bowling attack for the ongoing five-match T20I series in New Zealand. But his numbers have so far been totally miserable.
Bhuvneshwar has conceded 139 runs in 12 overs across his first three outings in the ongoing five-match T20I series against New Zealand. The seasoned seamer gave away 49 runs without taking a wicket in the first match in Christchurch.
He conceded another 50 runs and picked up one wicket in the second T20I at the same venue at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. However, Christchurch showed some improvement in the third T20I, giving away 40 runs in his four overs but returning wicketless against the Black Caps in Wellington.
These numbers are not what the selectors and the team management would have wanted from an experienced bowler making his comeback. Bhuvneshwar was expected to use his swing and control to trouble the New Zealand batters, but he has struggled to keep the runs down.
Why Did India Recall Bhuvneshwar Kumar After Four Years?
Bhuvneshwar was one of the key bowlers for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) during their historic back-to-back IPL triumphs in 2025 and 2026. The seamer has scalped 17 wickets in 2025 and 28 wickets in 2026 and played a crucial role in their success.
The Uttar Pradesh seamer also performed well in domestic cricket. In the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he picked up eight wickets in seven matches. Bhuvneshwar later took 14 wickets in 11 matches in the Uttar Pradesh T20 League in 2026.
These performances showed that Bhuvneshwar was still capable of taking wickets and making an impact in T20 cricket. And India also needed an experienced fast bowler who could guide younger players, especially with Jasprit Bumrah rested for the T20I series in New Zealand.
His ability to swing the ball and bowl effectively in the powerplay lured the selectors. Amid this, Shreyas Iyer left awestruck by <a href="https://cricket.international/shreyas-iyer-left-awestruck-by-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-and-abhishek-sharmas-carnage-hitting-in-3rd-t20i/" title="Shreyas Iyer left awestruck by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and <a href="https://cricket.international/abhishek-sharma-records-full-list-of-milestones-after-35-ball-hundred/" title="Abhishek Sharma records: Full list of milestones after 35-ball hundred”>Abhishek Sharma's carnage hitting in 3rd T20I”>Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma‘s carnage hitting in 3rd T20I.
Should BCCI Selectors Persist With Bhuvneshwar Kumar After New Zealand Series?
Yes, the Indian selectors and team management should continue to consider Bhuvneshwar even after the ongoing T20I series in New Zealand. His recent IPL and domestic performances show that he still has the ability to compete at a high level.
And the second thing is that it would be unfair to judge the seamer only on the basis of a couple of poor outings, and that too after his 1400-day absence from international cricket. The team management needs to look at his performances in the remaining matches on the tour.
Recently, Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel said that Bhuvneshwar’s struggles after his comeback were mainly due to nervousness rather than a loss of bowling skills. He still has a strong understanding of swing bowling and can use his vast experience to guide the younger bowlers.
Bhuvneshwar’s experience and ability to handle pressure could prove valuable for the Men in Blue. If the selectors give him enough time to settle down, Bhuvneshwar can still use his swing, control, and death-over skills to strengthen India’s bowling attack.
Source: cricketaddictor.com
