New Delhi: Dinesh Karthik has hailed the national selectors’ courage in recalling Bhuvneshwar Kumar to India’s T20I squad for the New Zealand tour, calling it a reward for sustained domestic and IPL excellence.
“It takes courage to pick a 36-year-old seamer when everyone’s chasing pace,” Karthik said. “But Bhuvi has earned this. His numbers over the last two IPL seasons are impossible to ignore.”
The numbers behind the recall
Bhuvneshwar took 45 wickets across the 2025 and 2026 IPL seasons for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, with 28 of those coming in 2026 at an economy of just 7.95 as RCB defended their title. His new-ball swing and death-overs control remain elite.
His last India appearance came in Napier in November 2022 — also in New Zealand, fittingly. Nearly four years later, he’s back where it all paused.
Why Karthik’s praise matters
Karthik, who has played alongside Bhuvneshwar and now analyses the game sharply, pointed to the intangibles: “Young quicks bowl fast. Bhuvi thinks fast. In New Zealand’s conditions — swing, seam, small grounds — that brain is gold.”
He also noted the message it sends to domestic performers: “If you keep performing at 35, 36, the door isn’t shut. That’s a powerful signal.”
The New Zealand challenge
New Zealand’s conditions should suit Bhuvneshwar perfectly — early swing at Hagley Oval and Eden Park, and his experience of bowling in the powerplay and at the death gives Shreyas Iyer options through the innings.
The five-match T20I series begins October 22 in Christchurch. For Bhuvneshwar, it’s not just a comeback — it’s a chance to show the next generation how it’s done.
Read also: Bhuvneshwar returns: full T20I squad
