Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar believes Bhuvneshwar Kumar should have been picked right after IPL 2026 when he had a terrific season for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Kumar was added to India’s T20I squad for the series against New Zealand on Tuesday.
The UP seamer bagged 28 wickets in 16 matches of IPL 2026 and had played an instrumental role in taking Royal Challengers Bengaluru to glory. The swing master has performed consistently in the recent past and also scalped 14 wickets in 11 matches while leading Lucknow Falcons in UP T20 League 2026.
Sanjay Manjrekar said on his Instagram handle, “If any bowler has a great IPL, I believe he should be picked straightaway into the Indian team. That’s purely because having a great season with the ball in the IPL in Indian conditions, where everything is in so much in favor of the batters, proves that any bowler who does well looks like a great achievement.”
“His selection is a really good one. In fact, I thought he would get picked straightaway after the last IPL, purely because he was so good with economy and wicket-taking, while being consistent right through. He was a game-changer with the ball.”
Manjrekar backed Bhuvneshwar Kumar to find success on his return and added he has bowling smarts to deliver the goods. The cricketer-turned-commentator praised the selectors for backing Kumar.
“Bhuvneshwar’s old-school thinking and the cricket smarts he has, along with the skills that are relevant against today’s modern-day batters and power hitters, are going to be a great combination for India. He bowls in the narrow channel, attacks the stumps, and gives nothing away with his angles in the air and off the pitch. So he’s going to be a tough one to get away,” said Manjrekar (via the aforementioned source).
“I believe, as Varun Chakaravarthy does with his wrist spin of bowling stump-to-stump, that’s going to be Bhuvneshwar’s great strength. Bhuvneshwar will do well, and the selectors need to be applauded, as it makes a lot of sense.”
India’s tour of New Zealand starts on October 22 with the first T20I at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval.
