Mitchell Santner Makes Big Bhuvneshwar Kumar Remark Ahead Of India vs New Zealand T20I Series

India pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar could have a good chance of making an impact if he returns to international cricket in the first T20I against New Zealand in Christchurch. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner believes the experienced pacer will enjoy bowling in conditions that could offer more help to fast bowlers.

Bhuvneshwar has built his reputation on his ability to swing the new ball and trouble batters, even on pitches that offer little assistance to bowlers. With India’s recent limited-overs matches producing huge scores, Santner feels the conditions in New Zealand could suit the Indian pacer.

Mitchell Santner Backs Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Speaking to reporters ahead of the opening T20I, Santner said Bhuvneshwar could be a difficult bowler to face if the conditions offer some movement off the pitch.

“I think Bhuvi will love these conditions in New Zealand. If there’s anything in the wicket, he finds something out of it. On some flat ones in India, he still managed to nip the ball and swing the ball, so I think with the new ball out here, especially, it’ll be a challenge (for New Zealand),” Santner said.

The New Zealand captain also pointed out that bowling in India has become increasingly difficult because of the high scores in recent matches. He joked that bowlers might prefer playing in conditions where they have a better chance of making an impact.

“In India, it’s pretty challenging as a bowler these days. We’ve seen in the recent series, 250 getting chased down. Who wants to be a bowler, but he (Bhuvneshwar) might like it out here a little bit better,” he added.

India’s High-Scoring Matches Raise Concerns

India’s recent limited-overs series against the West Indies saw some massive totals and successful run chases. Targets of more than 400 in ODIs and 250 in T20Is were chased down, raising questions about the balance between bat and ball.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir also expressed concerns about the conditions during the series, highlighting the challenges they posed for bowlers.

Santner is hopeful that the next series against New Zealand will be a more even contest, with the bowlers getting enough assistance to challenge the batters.

Santner Warns India About Changing Pitch Conditions

The New Zealand captain said conditions could vary from one match to another, depending on the weather and the state of the pitch. While the opening game could offer some assistance to bowlers, the surface might become easier for batting in the following match.

“I think maybe the first game it might be, but it can change pretty quickly. It’s very weather dependent. The second game is a used pitch, same pitch we used for first game. It could be a bit flatter. If it nips around, we’ve got to play accordingly. If it’s flat, you’ve got to play accordingly,” the 34-year-old said.

Santner also acknowledged that India’s batters have plenty of experience playing on fast and bouncy pitches around the world. He expects the visitors to adapt to the conditions as the series progresses.

“If there is a little bit in it, you might have to change a few shots, but they’ve played on fast, bouncy wickets before. They’ve played all around the world and done really well. It’s going to be a challenge this series and we’re looking forward to it,” he said.

India’s New Zealand Tour Schedule

India’s tour of New Zealand begins with a five-match T20I series, followed by five ODIs and a two-match Test series. The opening T20I will be an opportunity for both teams to assess the conditions and find the right approach ahead of the remaining matches.