Bhuvneshwar Kumar's resurgence: A new setback for the veteran pacer?

The World Champions had a sweet ride in the T20I series against New Zealand, clinching the series comfortably 3-2. The hosts were not anywhere near the talent from the Indian side. The Men in Blue chased the first three games where one was a comfortable reach, second one was a nail-biting and the series winning game was like a blitzkrieg for the opposition.

But, the ride was not peaceful for everyone, especially for the veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The right-arm bowler came to the senior men’s setup after 1400 days for this tour to play the T20I leg. Generally, in New Zealand the pitch offers a good amount of pace, seam and swing. Bhuvneshwar is specifically a specialist in swinging the deliveries both ways.

The 36-year-old had a good start in the first over in the games he played but since then it’s a destitute journey. The lack of pace and movement troubled Bhuvneshwar and the Kiwi’s batters whacked the balls all over the ground landing mostly into the audience's hands.

Bhuvneshwar has played four games in this series where he was even dropped after three straight dreadful outings in the first as many games. Overall, the Uttar Pradesh born bowler took one wicket at an average of 180. He was recalled to the Indian team after an impressive performance in the domestic circuit and two immaculate seasons with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

After this fallout one question arises: Is Bhuvneshwar’s recall the right one?

When keeping all the experience aside, the pacer needs to learn about modern day cricket. More importantly, the T20s have seen an enormous change in approach for both batters and bowlers. The pitch is favouring batters where maximums are coming freely and the scores are reaching big heights every other day. In the modern era of cricket, pitches offer minimal assistance to bowlers, whether they are pacers or spinners.

Because of this, Bhuvneshwar's re-entry into the international setup must be treated as a fresh start. He needs the same backing, patience, and initial support that a youngster receives when first showcasing their talent on the international stage.