- “Maybe that nervousness is still there,” says Mohammad Kaif about Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Mohammad Kaif has raised concerns over Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s performance in India’s T20I series against New Zealand, suggesting that nerves could affect the veteran seamer’s consistency.
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Photo by Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via ) Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned to the Indian T20I lineup after a four-year absence in the third match of the series against New Zealand in Wellington on October 27, 2026.
- The veteran seamer’s return has attracted attention after a difficult start to the first three T20Is in which he struggled to produce the form that earned him the recall.
“Maybe that nervousness is still there,” says Mohammad Kaif about Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Mohammad Kaif has raised concerns over Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s performance in India’s T20I series against New Zealand, suggesting that nerves could affect the veteran seamer’s consistency.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Photo by Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via ) Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned to the Indian T20I lineup after a four-year absence in the third match of the series against New Zealand in Wellington on October 27, 2026. The veteran seamer’s return has attracted attention after a difficult start to the first three T20Is in which he struggled to produce the form that earned him the recall. Mohammad Kaif, the former Indian batsman, has expressed concerns over Bhuvneshwar’s performance in the ongoing tour.
Kaif acknowledged the positive moments in the bowling but expressed concern over the overall consistency and discipline shown by the 36-year-old seamer. “There is cause for concern now. His pace has dropped a bit.
The bowling wasn’t that disciplined. A lot of things hpened that we weren’t used to from him. But I still feel like he is doing well at times,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel.
“Maybe that nervousness is still there. I still think we should keep an eye on him in the remaining two games. He will be dispointed himself.
I would like to see what he does in the last two games,” he added, quoted by YouTube. What did Mohammad Kaif say about Bhuvneshwar’s form and nervousness? In the first three T20Is of the series, Bhuvneshwar conceded 139 runs in 12 overs while taking just one wicket, an economy rate of 11.58.
In the opening match in Christchurch he gave up the wicket and gave away 49 runs in four overs. In the second T20I, he took one wicket but conceded 50 runs while posting figures of 0 for 40 from four overs in Wellington on October 27. Bhuvneshwar was named in the T20I squad after strong performances in the domestic championship.
He took 27 wickets in IPL 2025 and followed up with 28 wickets in IPL 2026, demonstrating form that justified his return to international cricket after his four-year absence from the format. Click Here: Follow Live Updates from WPL Auction 2027 Kaif also reflected on the greater pressure the Indian team faced during the tour. He pointed out that even experienced players face mental challenges when a team is struggling, and cited New Zealand ctain Tom Santner’s control difficulties as an example of how pressure affects decision-making and clarity of thought on the field.
“The way India plays, even the biggest player or club is under pressure. His brain didn’t function at all in detention,” Kaif said. “He himself came to bowling so late.
But when you get hit like that, your mind doesn’t work. There was no clarity of thought due to the pressure,” he added.
