- “We believe he will pick a wicket from the first ball” – Mohammad Kaif calls for patience on Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s return to India. Mohammad Kaif has backed Bhuvneshwar Kumar to make a successful return to T20Is after four years, despite the 36-year-old’s mixed debut in New Zealand.
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/) Bhuvneshwar Kumar is back in the Indian T20I team after a four-year absence, marking a significant return for the 36-year-old seamer.
- The experienced fast bowler is currently taking part in India’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which began on October 22 at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
“We believe he will pick a wicket from the first ball” – Mohammad Kaif calls for patience on Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s return to India. Mohammad Kaif has backed Bhuvneshwar Kumar to make a successful return to T20Is after four years, despite the 36-year-old’s mixed debut in New Zealand.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/) Bhuvneshwar Kumar is back in the Indian T20I team after a four-year absence, marking a significant return for the 36-year-old seamer. The experienced fast bowler is currently taking part in India’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which began on October 22 at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. In his first two T20I pearances of this series, Bhuvneshwar conceded 99 runs from eight overs while taking one wicket, a debut that elicited mixed reactions from cricket observers.
Mohammad Kaif, the former Indian batsman, publicly supported the veteran’s success despite these tough opening performances. “He’s coming back after four years. Give him some time.
It has been only two games. Cricket has changed a lot in four years. We believe he will get a wicket from the first ball.
Gaming has reached new heights. Playing in the IPL and playing for India is completely different. “People thought the ball would swing a lot in New Zealand but the batting conditions are good here,” Kaif said in a video on his YouTube channel.
Why is patience crucial for Bhuvneshwar’s return? Kaif said it would be premature to judge Bhuvneshwar’s performance based on just two matches, considering the significant changes in the sport in the last four years. The cricketer-turned-commentator emphasized that Bhuvneshwar bowled well and identified the lack of balls as an area that required immediate attention as they changed the momentum against the experienced pacer.
“It is still early to make a judgment. Yes, he will have to work on no-balls. This is a game changer for him.
He scored 50 in four overs, but if you break it down per over, his bowling was decent. Wait for the entire series and then analyze it. He bowled well,” Kaif added.
Also Read: Tim Southee backs Bhuvneshwar Kumar to bounce back from tough T20I comeback. Bhuvneshwar’s return to the Indian T20 setup comes after a strong performance in the Indian Premier League, where he took 28 wickets for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2026 season. The five-match series against New Zealand is scheduled to end on November 1, which will allow for a fuller assessment of Bhuvneshwar’s readiness at international level.
