Delhi: The return of veteran fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Team India has created a stir in the cricket world. The experienced pacer has got a place in the Indian team announced for the five-match T20 International series against New Zealand. The return of Bhuvneshwar, who returned to the national team after almost four years, is being considered a big decision of the selection committee.
Also read: Indian T20 team announced for New Zealand tour, Bhuvneshwar Kumar's explosive comeback after 4 years
Wasn't getting a place because of Agarkar's attitude?
abplive.com According to a report, during the tenure of former chief selector Ajit Agarkar, the selection committee was following the policy of giving more opportunities to young bowlers. It was believed that keeping in mind the future of the team, youth should be given continuous opportunities in place of experienced players. For this reason, despite his brilliant performance, Bhuvneshwar's comeback remained difficult.
The report has claimed that selection committee member and former fast bowler RP Singh had advocated for Bhuvneshwar's inclusion in the team again on several occasions. However, his return could not be made due to lack of support from the chief selector.
The new committee expressed confidence
After Ajit Agarkar stepped down from the post, the interim selection committee led by Pragyan Ojha has given a chance to Bhuvneshwar. In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, he will be India's most experienced fast bowler on the New Zealand tour.
Strong performance in IPL and domestic cricket
Bhuvneshwar's comeback has not been based on experience alone. He has consistently performed impressively in domestic cricket and the IPL in recent years. For Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), he made a strong case for selection by taking 17 wickets in 14 matches in 2025 and 28 wickets in 16 matches in 2026. Playing for Team India, Bhuvneshwar has taken 90 wickets in 87 T20Is, 141 wickets in 121 ODIs and 63 wickets in 21 Tests.
It is noteworthy that Bhuvneshwar Kumar's return to the team seems to be the right decision. He has a lot of experience and is also in good form. His experience with young bowlers can be useful to the team. Now it has to be seen how much Bhuvneshwar is able to take advantage of this opportunity.
Also read: IND vs WI: Shreyas Iyer scored 102 runs in 43 balls, West Indies lost by 8 wickets
Indian team for T20I series against New Zealand:
Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Verma (vice-captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Axar Patel, Shivam Dubey, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Varun Chakraborty and Kuldeep Yadav.
FAQ
Why did Bhuvneshwar Kumar return to Team India after almost four years?
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has consistently performed brilliantly in domestic cricket and IPL. After taking 17 wickets for RCB in 2025 and 28 wickets in 2026, considering his experience and current form, the selectors gave him a chance in the T20 series against New Zealand.
Was Bhuvneshwar Kumar's comeback difficult during Ajit Agarkar's tenure?
According to the report, at that time the focus of the selection committee was on giving more opportunities to young bowlers. RP Singh had reportedly advocated for Bhuvneshwar's return, but his return could not happen due to lack of support from the chief selector.