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Bhuvneshwar Kumar in IND vs NZ T20Is (Source: AFP)
Now that the IND vs NZ T20Is have ended, Bhuvneshwar Kumar's inclusion and poor performance in India’s squad for the series have drawn both positive and negative attention.
It is worth noting that Bhuvneshwar Kumar's return to the Indian team after a four-year gap did not go as planned, and the ace pacer struggled to make an impact during the five-match T20I series against New Zealand.
After the series ended, Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has questioned the selectors’ decision to include the veteran pacer in the India’s squad.
Irfan Pathan’s Questions Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s Inclusion In IND vs NZ T20Is
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Irfan Pathan said that the selectors should have given opportunities to younger fast bowlers instead of bringing Bhuvneshwar Kumar back into the T20I setup for India.
Irfan Pathan also added that including Bhuvneshwar was a mistake, especially when the next T20 World Cup was still some time away. He also feels that the team management missed an important opportunity to test young fast bowlers against New Zealand.
"In my opinion, where did the selectors go wrong? They made a mistake by playing Bhuvneshwar Kumar in this series. Look, there is no doubt that Bhuvneshwar is a good bowler and a senior player. However, playing him here, when the T20 World Cup is nowhere near, was questionable. If you were preparing Bhuvneshwar for the 50-over World Cup, which is closer, that would have made sense," Irfan Pathan said in a video on his YouTube channel.
Irfan Pathan also suggested that young pacers like Prince Yadav could have benefited from playing all the matches against New Zealand.
"By including him in this series, however, you missed out on giving young fast bowlers an opportunity. A youngster could have played in his place and gained valuable experience. Mayank [Yadav] could have played all the matches and gained that exposure, while Prince Yadav could have played too. You missed a valuable opportunity for your fast bowlers to gain good experience on New Zealand soil," Irfan Pathan added.
"I'm not saying this because Bhuvneshwar didn't perform well. That's not the case. Although he was a bit unlucky-he bowled well in his first two overs, but later, when he bowled the final over of the powerplay, he conceded runs. These things happen to any player. There is no question about his skill," Irfan Pathan noted.
Will Bhuvneshwar Kumar Get Another Chance For India?
It is worth noting that Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s future in the Indian T20I team looks uncertain after his disappointing comeback series. The 36-year-old picked up just one wicket in four matches while conceding 180 runs in 16 overs at an economy rate of 11.25.
With young fast bowlers waiting for opportunities, the selectors may consider other options for India's upcoming T20I assignments, including the Sri Lanka series.
