India T20I captain Shreyas Iyer believes Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s experience could strengthen the team’s bowling attack ahead of the five-match series against New Zealand, starting on October 22. The veteran pacer has returned to the national setup after a lengthy absence.
India have several relatively inexperienced bowling options in the squad, making Bhuvneshwar’s inclusion significant. Iyer pointed to the pacer’s recent success in T20 cricket and his understanding of the format as reasons why his presence could benefit the team.
Bhuvi brings a lot of experience to the side – Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer acknowledged that India have lacked experience in their bowling unit during his tenure as captain, particularly after the IPL, when several new bowlers became part of the setup. He believes Bhuvneshwar Kumar can offer valuable guidance alongside his contributions with the ball.
“Bhuvi brings a lot of experience to the side. We were lacking that a bit, especially after the IPL. We had a lot of new bowlers. But if you see his T20 career graph over the last 4 years, he has won the IPL twice, and has a good idea about how to dominate this format,” Shreyas Iyer said during the pre-series press conference, as quoted by RevSportz.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar brings plenty of experience with him
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has played 88 T20Is for India between 2012 and 2026. He has taken 90 wickets in 86 innings, with best figures of 5/4. His bowling average stands at 23.10, while his economy rate is 6.96.
The right-arm pacer has also recorded three four-wicket hauls and two five-wicket hauls in the format. Those figures underline his ability to produce match-changing spells rather than simply restrict the opposition’s scoring.
His record against New Zealand is another relevant detail ahead of the series. In 11 T20Is against the Black Caps, Bhuvneshwar has claimed nine wickets across 11 innings. He has conceded runs at an economy rate of 8.02, with best figures of 2/24.
In matches played in India, his numbers are stronger. Bhuvneshwar has taken 34 wickets in 33 innings across 35 T20Is at home, averaging 26.02 with an economy rate of 7.58.
So many backups, right? – Shreyas Iyer opens up on selection headache
India’s squad depth has created competition for places across the playing XI, with several players pushing for opportunities. Iyer welcomed that situation, describing the challenge of selecting the final team as a positive sign rather than a problem.
“So many backups, right? In a way, that is good, and it motivates the current team members to perform consistently for the team. Most importantly, we have to win the match; that is the eventual goal. I want to say that it is a sweet headache, but such a headache is important for every team,” Shreyas Iyer added.
The New Zealand series will present a major challenge for Iyer, who has a very poor record as the T20I skipper when compared to his predecessors Suryakumar Yadav and Rohit Sharma.
Source: cricketaddictor.com
