Playing Bhuvneshwar Kumar a 'mistake' by selectors, says T20 World Cup winner Irfan Pathan

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has publicly questioned the BCCI selectors' decision to include 36-year-old Bhuvneshwar Kumar in India's five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which ran from October 22 to November 1, 2026. Pathan made his remarks after the series concluded, arguing that the selectors erred in their thinking when they handed Bhuvneshwar a recall to the national side.

Bhuvneshwar had returned to the Indian T20I setup after a four-year absence, his previous appearance in the format having come against New Zealand in Napier on November 22, 2022. His comeback was backed by a strong IPL 2026 campaign with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where he claimed 16 wickets across 28 matches at an economy rate of 7.95. Shreyas Iyer captained India throughout the New Zealand series.

"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," Pathan said on his YouTube channel.

India won the first three matches of the series before dropping the final two, finishing 3-2 against the Kiwis. Bhuvneshwar managed just one wicket across the first three T20Is while conceding runs at an economy rate of 11.58. He returned figures of 0 for 49 in four overs in the first T20I and 1 for 50 in four overs in the second. Mayank Yadav replaced him in the playing eleven for the fourth T20I in Auckland on October 30, 2026.

Why did Pathan argue the selectors missed an opportunity for young fast bowlers?

Pathan's central argument was not about Bhuvneshwar's ability but about what India's management gave up by selecting him. With both Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav available in the squad, Pathan felt the series in New Zealand represented a rare chance to expose young pace bowlers to demanding conditions where the margin for error is minimal.

"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," he said.

Pathan then elaborated on the broader principle of fast-bowling development, stressing that true pitches abroad are precisely the environment where young pacers must be tested.

"The question is definitely about the timing. Would this have been a better opportunity for a young fast bowler? I believe it would have been. You have to understand that if you want to develop fast bowlers, it is very important to give them opportunities and let them play on true pitches, where the margin for error is very low," he added.

Did Pathan hold Bhuvneshwar Kumar's performances responsible for his criticism?

Pathan was careful to separate his criticism of the selection decision from any assessment of Bhuvneshwar's individual skill or effort during the series. He acknowledged that the senior pacer had bowled with some promise in the early overs of his spells, even if the results did not always reflect that.

"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," Pathan concluded.