“They made a mistake by playing Bhuvneshwar Kumar” – Former SRH player’s huge remark after India’s loss in the NZ vs IND 2026 5th T20I

Former India and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes the selectors made a mistake by playing Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the New Zealand T20I series. The final match of the five-match contest was played in Hamilton on Sunday, November 1.

Put in to bat, India posted 191/8. In response, the Black Caps won by seven wickets with two overs to spare, while India clinched the series 3-2. Bhuvneshwar once again remained wicketless, conceding 41 runs in his four-over spell. In four games, the veteran seamer claimed a solitary wicket and gave away runs at an economy rate of 11.25.

Speaking in a video on his YouTube channel, Pathan stated that Bhuvneshwar is a senior player, but playing him when the T20 World Cup is nowhere near was questionable. He noted that including the 36-year-old meant a young pacer missed out on a valuable opportunity to gain experience on New Zealand soil, with the likes of Mayank Yadav also playing just two games. Pathan said:

“In my opinion, where did the selectors go wrong? They made a mistake by playing Bhuvneshwar Kumar in this series. Look, there is no doubt that Bhuvneshwar Kumar is a good bowler and a senior player. However, playing him here, when the T20 World Cup is not anywhere near, was questionable. If you were preparing Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the 50-over World Cup, which is near, that would have made sense.

“But by including him in this series, you missed out on giving young fast bowlers an opportunity. One young fast bowler could have played in his place and gained valuable experience. Mayank could have played all the matches and gained that opportunity, while Prince Yadav could also have played all the matches. You have missed out on a valuable opportunity for your fast bowlers to gain good experience on New Zealand soil,” he added.

Bhuvneshwar has featured in 92 T20Is, claiming 91 wickets, including two five-wicket hauls.

“There is no question about his skill” – Irfan Pathan’s blunt take on Bhuvneshwar Kumar

In the same video, Irfan Pathan stated that Bhuvneshwar Kumar was unlucky in the fifth T20I and that there are no questions about his skills. However, he questioned the timing of his selection in the side, adding that if the team wants to develop fast bowlers, it is important to give them opportunities to play on true surfaces. Pathan said:

“I’m not saying this because Bhuvneshwar Kumar didn’t perform well. That’s not the case. Although he was a bit unlucky today, as he bowled well in his first two overs. Later, when he bowled the final over of the powerplay, he conceded runs. These things happen to any player. There is no question about his skill.

“The question is definitely about the timing. Would this have been a better opportunity for a young fast bowler? I believe it would have been. You have to understand that if you want to develop fast bowlers, it is very important to give them opportunities and let them play on true pitches, where the margin for error is very low,” he added.

India will next feature in a T20I series when they host Sri Lanka for a three-match contest, beginning on December 22.

Edited by Dev Sharma