Bhuvneshwar Kumar stepped onto the international stage after being away for almost four years, featuring in India's last T20I against the West Indies and the opening two T20Is against New Zealand in Christchurch. The 36-year-old pacer, recalled to the squad in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, faced challenging conditions and struggled to find his rhythm during his comeback matches. His opening two outings against the Kiwis produced modest returns: 4 overs for 49 runs without a wicket in the first match, followed by 4 overs for 50 runs with a single dismissal of Daryl Mitchell on Saturday in the second T20I at Hagley Oval.
"You look at his skill and experience that is vitally important in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence," Southee told HT.
Why has Bhuvneshwar struggled in his opening matches?
The Christchurch pitches presented batting-friendly conditions, particularly evident in the first T20I where India chased down 226 runs. Southee attributed some of the bowling difficulties to the nature of modern white-ball cricket and the surfaces on offer. He explained that the lack of swing movement early in the innings has forced bowlers to rely on alternative skills rather than traditional seam-based approaches.
"Yeah, it's an interesting one. You see a little bit of swing for the first over, but I think it's sort of been the case for a while in white-ball cricket now - the ball hasn’t swung," Southee said.
How is Bhuvneshwar being deployed in the series?
In the second T20I, India's captain Shreyas Iyer deployed Bhuvneshwar primarily during the Powerplay phase. His third over of that spell went for 17 runs, reflecting the difficulty he faced in containing the New Zealand batters. Later in the innings, Bhuvneshwar was called upon to bowl the 16th over, where he conceded 18 runs. In the first T20I, he had bowled the final over, which went for 14 runs.
"As a bowler, you've got to be flexible and adaptable. I think the inclusion of Prince Yedav probably negated that a little bit," Southee said.
What challenges does Bhuvneshwar face with accuracy?
One statistical concern from Bhuvneshwar's opening two matches is his control with the new ball. Across the two games, he has bowled 5 wides and 3 no-balls, a notable development given that he had never bowled a no-ball in his previous 88 T20Is before this series. Such lapses in accuracy underscore the adjustment challenges he faces after such an extended absence from international cricket.
As a seasoned campaigner with considerable experience, Bhuvneshwar will be expected to draw upon his mental reserves and technical knowledge to reverse the trend in the remaining matches of the series. The international format demands a different level of intensity and precision compared to domestic league cricket, and his ability to recalibrate will be crucial to his contribution to India's campaign.
