Former India all-rounder
Bhuvneshwar, who made his return to the T20I format after a four-year absence, struggled to find his rhythm throughout the series. Across his four appearances, the right-arm seamer conceded a total of 180 runs while managing to claim only a single wicket. India, captained by Shreyas Iyer, ultimately finished the five-match series with a 3-2 result, having secured three consecutive wins before dropping the final two encounters.
Concerns Over Selection Strategy and Timing
In a video posted to his YouTube channel, Pathan clarified that his criticism was directed at the strategic timing of the selection rather than Bhuvneshwar’s individual skill set. While acknowledging the pacer's seniority and quality, Pathan noted that the decision lacked long-term logic given the distance to the next T20 World Cup. He suggested that if the objective was to prepare for a major tournament, the focus should have been on the 50-over format, which is closer on the cricketing calendar.
The former cricketer highlighted that the inclusion of an established player came at the expense of developmental opportunities for the next generation of talent. Pathan specifically mentioned players like Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav, noting that the series in New Zealand provided an ideal environment for youngsters to gain experience on challenging pitches where the margin for error is minimal. By opting for a veteran, Pathan believes the team missed a valuable window to test and nurture young prospects in high-pressure conditions.
A Difficult Series for the Veteran Pacer
Bhuvneshwar’s performance statistics throughout the series reflected the challenges he faced. In the opening T20I, he went wicketless while conceding 49 runs in his four-over spell, resulting in an economy rate of 12.25. His only success of the series came during the second match, where he dismissed Daryl Mitchell but still leaked 50 runs.
Following a wicketless outing in the third match where he conceded 40 runs, the pacer sat out the fourth game. He returned for the series finale but was unable to stem the flow of runs, finishing with figures of 0/41 from his four overs. Despite these figures, Pathan noted that the bowler was occasionally unlucky and maintained that his critique was focused on the selectors' broader vision for the squad's development rather than a personal assessment of Bhuvneshwar’s capabilities.
