Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s return to India’s T20I side has not gone as planned, despite his impressive performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the last two seasons. The veteran pacer has struggled to keep New Zealand’s batters quiet in the first two matches of the ongoing five-match series.
India bowling coach Morne Morkel, however, has backed Bhuvneshwar to find his rhythm again. The South African has urged the 36-year-old to focus on his strengths and not worry about the expectations surrounding his comeback.
Bhuvneshwar conceded 49 runs in the first T20I and followed it up with another expensive spell, giving away 50 runs in the second match. With an economy rate of 12.37 across the two games and just one wicket to his name, the right-arm pacer has found it difficult to make an impact so far.
His recent struggles come after a four-year absence from India’s T20I setup, with his performances for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL earning him another opportunity at the international level.
Morne Morkel Explains Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s Struggles
Speaking to reporters ahead of the third T20I, Morkel said he understood the pressure Bhuvneshwar could be facing after returning to international cricket following a long gap.
The bowling coach pointed to the pacer’s impressive IPL form but stressed that performing at the international level presents a different challenge.
“I’ve got a lot of sympathy for his (Bhuvneshwar) return,” Morkel told reporters on Monday.
“There will be expectations after four years to come back. He has done exceptionally well in the IPL and bowled really well,” he added.
Morkel also explained that Bhuvneshwar had limited time to prepare for his international comeback. Although the pacer trained for a month before being selected, the busy schedule made it difficult for him to get fully ready.
“One challenge is to block the expectation factor out. Two, leading into selection, he trained for a month, but playing international cricket is a different beast where the margins are small. He had to come in with limited training because of the schedule to get himself ready,” Morkel said.
‘Don’t Chase Anything’: Morkel’s Message To Bhuvneshwar
Despite the expensive spells, Morkel remains confident that Bhuvneshwar has the skills and experience needed to turn things around. He believes the veteran pacer needs time to settle back into international cricket rather than trying too hard to make an immediate impact.
“The skill and his experience, everything is there. But at the end of the day, we have to respect the game of cricket and you have to be able to allow him to just find his feet in some of the games,” Morkel said.
The bowling coach added that his message to Bhuvneshwar had remained the same since the pacer joined the squad: trust his abilities and avoid getting distracted by outside expectations.
“And for me, that has been the message from the start when he joined the squad, don’t chase anything. Just be you. Yes, there will be expectations. But every game you’ll get better and every game you’ll find your rhythm. So let’s not think about any outside noises. Just be you and connect with that,” the South African said.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s IPL Form Earned Him India Recall
Bhuvneshwar’s return to the national side came after two successful seasons with RCB. The experienced seamer played an important role in the franchise’s title-winning campaigns, using his swing and ability to move the ball to trouble opposition batters.
He picked up 17 wickets during the 2025 IPL season before taking his tally to 28 wickets in the 2026 edition. Those performances strengthened his case for an international comeback and showed that he could still be effective at the highest level.
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However, the transition back to T20I cricket has proved challenging, and Bhuvneshwar will be keen to respond in the upcoming matches.
India Look To Seal T20I Series Against New Zealand
India currently lead the five-match T20I series 2-0 and will have a chance to seal the series with another victory in the third match.
The third T20I is scheduled to take place on October 27 at Hnry Stadium in Wellington. Bhuvneshwar will be hoping to deliver a stronger performance as India look to maintain their winning run against New Zealand.