Bhuvneshwar Kumar Scripts Worst-Ever Series For A Bowler In T20I History

Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowling for India - (Source: AFP)

On Sunday, November 1, India concluded their 5-match T20I series against New Zealand and clinched the series 3-2. Despite the series win, Bhuvneshwar Kumar would be disappointed by his return. 

The RCB star ended his four-year-long international hiatus, and his return turned anticlimactic. Bhuvi featured in four games and picked up just a solitary wicket to his name. 

Bhuvneshwar Kumar Records Worst Ever Average in A T20I series

As mentioned above, Bhuvneshwar Kumar played 4 games and took just a single wicket. The 36-year-old bowled with an economy of 11.25 and averaged 180.00. Notably, it is the worst average for any bowler in a T20I series.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar etched this embarrassing record to his name after surpassing Kyle Jamieson, who averaged 175 against Australia in the 2021 series.

Notably, Bhuvi bowled 16 overs and gave away 180 runs, which is 11.25 runs per over. Here is the complete list. 

Worst Bowling average in a T20I Series 

• 180.00 - 𝗕𝗵𝘂𝘃𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗵𝘄𝗮𝗿 (v NZ, 2026)*
• 175.00 - Kyle Jamieson (v AUS, 2021)

Decoding Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s New Zealand Series In Numbers

Bhuvneshwar Kumar started the series on a low and registered the figures of 0/49 in his 4 overs in the 1st T20I, which are the 3rd-worst bowling figures for the RCB star in his career. In the 2nd T20I, the 36-year-old picked up his solitary wicket of the entire series, but gave away 50 runs in 4 overs, his 2nd worst performance. 

Bhuvi leaked 40 runs in the 3rd T20I as well, which led to his ouster from the team for the 4th T20I. Surprisingly, the 36-year-old was given another go, probably the last, in the recently concluded fixture, where he leaked 41 runs in his four overs.

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Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s T20I Record Dampens in New Zealand

Before the start of the series, Bhuvneshwar Kumar had played 5 T20Is in New Zealand and had just 4 wickets to his name. In the 19 overs he bowled, the right-arm seamer had 160 runs, maintaining an economy of 8.40, the most for him in any country.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar averaged 40.00 in New Zealand, the most for him in any country. Further, his best figures in New Zealand were 1/12.

Now after the series, Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s average has rose to 68 from 40 and his strike-rate too has rose to 42. 

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