Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has revealed that two reasons behind Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s unimpressive comeback in the T20I series against New Zealand. Chopra said Kumar’s lengths throughout the series was on the shorter side and he was also down on pace.
Kumar was added to India’s T20I squad after he scalped 28 wickets in 16 matches of IPL 2026 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru and played a key role in the franchise’s success. But, the veteran seamer didn’t have a great return to Indian colors as he scalped one wicket at an average of 180 in four games and conceded his runs at an economy rate of 11.25.
Aakash Chopra said on Cricinfo, “The length has been on a bit of a shorter side to begin with. It has worked in the IPL. It is not working now. The pace is not really the high 130s. It’s either high 120s or very early 130s. That is where he’s operated with a length that’s slightly shorter on true batting surfaces.
“He started well, on a couple of occasions. But when you look at the final figures, it’s normally in the excess of 10s or 11s. So if you’re going there, his comeback hasn’t been as good as we all thought that it will be.”
The renowned commentator highlighted it would be tough for Bhuvneshwar Kumar to retain his place for the T20I series against Sri Lanka.
He concluded, “I felt that he should have played all five T20Is [in New Zealand]. India decided to play him in the first three, rested him in the fourth. I don’t know why. Then brought him back in the fifth. Again, I don’t know why. So, you start thinking that the team is still thinking about him. They have not written him off. But, it looks tough.”
India will next take on New Zealand in a five-match ODI series.
