Veteran India seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar on Tuesday returned to the national side nearly four years after his last appearance, for the upcoming five-match T20I series in New Zealand later this month. However, Bhuvneshwar’s comeback did not happen during Ajit Agarkar’s tenure, as the former chairman of selectors was not inclined to look back at experienced players despite their performances. The 36-year-old Meerut-born Bhuvneshwar played a stellar role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s back-to-back IPL title triumphs, claiming 17 wickets last season while tormenting some of the best batters in the business with swing and seam movement during the powerplay.
The squad announced by the BCCI, the first after the exit of former chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar and with Pragyan Ojha serving as interim chairman, also features Varun Chakravarthy, who returns after an injury ruled him out of the Asian Games. Most of the T20I squad currently featuring in the West Indies series picked itself, but Bhuvneshwar’s comeback will also inspire Mohammed Shami. India will also play a five-match ODI series and a two-Test series after the T20I leg.
With his experience, he can also guide the likes of Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav, both of whom are being viewed as potential contenders for the 2028 T20 World Cup in Australia. India will play five T20Is from October 22 to November 1 in New Zealand. The first match of the series will be played in Christchurch on October 22, followed by the second at the same venue on October 24.
