Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned to India’s T20I setup after a four-year absence during the third match of the series against New Zealand in Wellington on October 27, 2026. The veteran seamer’s comeback has drawn scrutiny following a difficult start across the first three T20Is, where he has struggled to replicate the form that earned him recall.
Mohammad Kaif, the former India batter, has raised significant concerns about Bhuvneshwar’s performance during the ongoing tour. Kaif acknowledged patches of positive bowling but expressed worry about the overall consistency and discipline shown by the 36-year-old seamer.
“It is a matter of concern now. His pace has dropped a bit. The bowling has not been as disciplined. A lot of things have happened that we are not used to seeing from him. But I still feel that, in phases, he is doing well,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel.
“Maybe that nervousness is still there. I still feel we should look at him in the remaining two games. He will be disappointed himself. I would want to see what he does in the last two games,” he added, as quoted by YouTube.
What did Mohammad Kaif say about Bhuvneshwar’s form and nervousness?
Across the first three T20Is of the series, Bhuvneshwar has conceded 139 runs in 12 overs while taking just one wicket, recording an economy rate of 11.58. In the opening match at Christchurch, he went wicketless and gave away 49 runs across four overs. The second T20I saw him claim one wicket but concede 50 runs, while in Wellington on October 27, he returned figures of 0 for 40 from four overs.
Bhuvneshwar earned his recall to the T20I squad on the back of strong domestic league performances. He took 27 wickets in IPL 2025 and followed that with 28 wickets in IPL 2026, demonstrating form that warranted his return to international cricket after his four-year absence from the format.
Kaif also reflected on the broader pressure affecting India’s squad during the tour. He noted that even senior players and captains face mental challenges when a team is struggling, citing New Zealand captain Tom Santner’s captaincy difficulties as an example of how pressure impacts decision-making and clarity of thought on the field.
“The way India are playing, even the biggest player or captain comes under pressure. I saw Santner. His brain was not working at all in captaincy,” Kaif said.
“He himself came to bowl so late. But when you are getting hit like this, your mind does not work. There was no clarity of thought because of the pressure,” he added.
