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Mohammad Kaif has backed Bhuvneshwar Kumar to succeed in his T20I comeback after four years, despite the 36-year-old's mixed start in New Zealand.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has returned to India's T20I squad after an absence of four years, marking a significant comeback for the 36-year-old seamer. The veteran fast bowler is currently featuring in India's five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which began on October 22 at Christchurch's Hagley Oval.
In his first two T20I appearances of this series, Bhuvneshwar has conceded 99 runs across eight overs while picking up one wicket, a start that has drawn mixed reactions from cricket observers. Mohammad Kaif, the former India batter, has publicly backed the veteran to succeed despite these challenging opening performances.
'He is coming back after four years. Give him some time. It has been only two games. Cricket changes a lot in four years. We feel that he will pick a wicket on the very first ball. The game has gone to new heights. Playing in the IPL and playing for India is very different. People thought the ball would swing a lot in New Zealand, but the batting conditions are actually good here," Kaif said in a video on his YouTube channel.
Why patience is crucial for Bhuvneshwar's comeback?
Kaif stated that judging Bhuvneshwar's performance on just two games would be premature, given the significant changes that have occurred in the sport over the past four years. The cricketer-turned-commentator highlighted that Bhuvneshwar has bowled well in patches and identified no-balls as an area requiring immediate attention, as these have shifted momentum against the veteran pacer.
"It is early to judge right now. Yes, he will have to work on the no-balls. That is changing the momentum for him. It shows 50 off four overs, but if you break it down over by over, his bowling has been decent. Wait for the whole series and then analyse. He has bowled well in patches," Kaif added.
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Bhuvneshwar's return to the Indian T20 setup comes after a strong showing in the Indian Premier League, where he took 28 wickets for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2026 season. The five-match series against New Zealand is scheduled to conclude on November 1, providing the window for a fuller evaluation of Bhuvneshwar's readiness at the international level.