- Morkel urges Bhuvneshwar to block expectations ahead of Wellington T20I. Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel has backed Bhuvneshwar Kumar despite a difficult start to New Zealand’s T20I series and urged the veteran pacer to focus on his own game.
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Photo by Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via ) Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel has urged Bhuvneshwar Kumar to put aside public expectations and focus on his own game ahead of the third T20I against New Zealand at the Hnry Stadium in Wellington on Tuesday, October 29, 2026.
- After the first two games in Christchurch, India is leading 2-0 in the five-match series.
Morkel urges Bhuvneshwar to block expectations ahead of Wellington T20I. Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel has backed Bhuvneshwar Kumar despite a difficult start to New Zealand’s T20I series and urged the veteran pacer to focus on his own game.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Photo by Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via ) Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel has urged Bhuvneshwar Kumar to put aside public expectations and focus on his own game ahead of the third T20I against New Zealand at the Hnry Stadium in Wellington on Tuesday, October 29, 2026. After the first two games in Christchurch, India is leading 2-0 in the five-match series. In the first two games, Bhuvneshwar conceded 49 runs in the opening game and 50 in the second game and finished with an economy rate of 12.37, the worst of any Indian bowler in the series.
His only wicket in these two games came in the second T20I when he dismissed Daryl Mitchell. Morkel was open about the circumstances surrounding the 36-year-old point guard, who will soon turn 37. “Look, I have great sympathy for his return.
The reason I say this is because, firstly, after four years there is a waiting period. He has done exceonally well in the IPL. He’s bowled really well.
The first is to block the expectation factor. Secondly, I mean, before his selection there was a month of cricket where he did train, but it’s a whole different beast playing international cricket where the margins are slim. Therefore, he had to arrive with limited training due to the preparation schedule,” Morkel said in the press conference ahead of the third T20I, as quoted by.
Morkel also made it clear that Bhuvneshwar’s abilities will not be questioned. He said his message to the point guard has been consistent from the moment he joined the team. “So the skills and experience are there.
But ultimately we have to respect the game of cricket and allow it to gain a foothold in certain games. And for me that was the message from the beginning when he joined the team, which was not to chase anything. Yes, there will be expectations.
But with every game you get better and with every game you find your rhythm. So let’s not think about the outside noise. Just be yourself and connect with it,” he added.
Bhuvneshwar’s last pearance in any form for India before the T20I against the West Indies in Bengaluru earlier this month was in November 2022. He returned to the competition after two consecutive productive IPL seasons with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, picking up 17 wickets in one season and 28 in the next as the franchise won back-to-back titles. Why did India get their third fast bowler between the two Christchurch T20Is?
In both T20Is in Christchurch, India, his third seamer changed. Mayank Yadav played the first game and scored at odds of 1 in 40, while Prince Yadav played the second game and finished at odds of 1 in 30. Morkel explained the reasons for this change.
Morkel was careful to point out that Mayank’s omission did not reflect his performance. He noted that giving a young bowler time to think about and understand his craft was not necessarily a negative outcome. “It was just a purely tactical change that we felt was necessary at this location.
It’s no secret that Prince, who bowls first with his yorkers, is someone who does this very well. And it kind of felt like – the lessons learned from the first game – we were playing second, had the ball wet and, you know, given the size of the pitch, we were one of the guys most likely to hit the yorkers. And then Prince can of course play quickly again, in all phases of the game.
And his execution is a little better,” Morkel said. How will the strong winds in Wellington impact India’s preparations for the third T20I? Wellington presents India with a challenge that goes beyond competition.
The city is unofficially known as the “windiest city in the world” and conditions are particularly harsh at the moment with the seafront promenade closed after cyclists were knocked off their bikes by gusts of wind. Rain is also forecast at Hnry Stadium on matchday. Morkel, who played two Test matches in the Wellington Basin reserves during his career with South Africa, admitted the conditions would be unlike anything most players in the current Indian team had ever experienced.
“It’s a different beast, this wind. I was at the hotel this morning and the whole building shook. So I think it’s going to be a new type of thing that we’re going to add to our books so the guys can get used to it and get used to it quickly.
But yes, we are also looking forward to this challenge and accept it without any big excuses. Either you will see it as a challenge, or you will see it as a negative, or it will dispoint you. And hopefully we can get these guys in the mental space where they’re excited about this challenge.
And at the end of the day, someone has to put their hand up and play against the wind because we can’t have four guys playing against the wind,” Morkel said.
