Bhuvneshwar Kumar dropped from fourth T20 against New Zealand after poor form

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has raised concerns about fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar after his comeback tour against New Zealand did not go as planned. India and New Zealand played their fourth T20 match in Auckland at the Eden Park stadium. Indian captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to field first for the fourth straight time. The playing eleven saw changes as Ishan Kishan and Mayank Yadav came into the side, with Yadav replacing Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Mayank Yadav used the opportunity well by taking three wickets while giving away 48 runs in his four overs, including dismissing Tim Seifert and Daryl Mitchell in the powerplay.

Performance And Reactions

Bhuvneshwar Kumar had earned a recall to the national team after nearly four years following strong performances for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League. Fans held high expectations for the 36-year-old player, but his bowling failed to make a major impact in the first three matches of the series. He bowled a total of 12 overs across those games, conceding 139 runs and picking up only one wicket. Aakash Chopra noted that giving away too many runs in all three matches raises questions about his return and makes it look like the team management is ready to move on. According to myKhel Tamil, former wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik stated that he would have continued giving opportunities to Bhuvneshwar given his experience and skill, though he noted that if the fast bowler was indeed dropped, that decision is understandable. Karthik added that Bhuvneshwar will take this as a challenge and bounce back stronger, deserving more chances based on his solid IPL form. Former Indian player Ambati Rayudu also voiced support, mentioning that things do not always go to plan when returning to international cricket after a long break, but Bhuvneshwar knows how to bounce back from tough outings.

Context

It remains officially unclear whether Bhuvneshwar Kumar was rested or dropped from the playing eleven for the fourth match. Long breaks between international appearances often make it challenging for senior players to immediately match the pace and rhythm of top-tier matches. Selectors constantly balance the proven experience of veterans against the raw energy and impact of younger fast bowlers entering the squad.