Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has returned to the Indian squad after having done well in the IPL over the past two seasons. His experience may have played a role in the selectors’ decision to bring him back into the squad for the New Zealand series, believed India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak. He has 90 wickets from 87 T20Is, but his last T20I appearance came in November 2022, also against New Zealand.

“In England, I also personally felt that with Bumrah not being around and all the new bowlers, like young bowlers, were playing. We all know that you can’t beat experience. They are also performing well and getting selected, but at some stage you also need some experience. I am just thinking that might be one reason,” he shared.

“Another thing is Bhuvaneshwar has been doing really well in IPL for the last two seasons. So, the selectors must have thought that for New Zealand conditions and all. And obviously, he has been doing well, and we need some experience,” he again shared.

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Sitanshu Kotak also opined that the team is continuing to manage the workload of its senior players while also giving opportunities to emerging talent as well. However, India currently lead the series 1-0, thanks to Shreyas Iyer’s stunning maiden T20I century in the series opener.

“Some games, we are not playing Bumrah, giving him rest. Some games, some other senior players also not playing. So, obviously, any team in the world will require bench strength and somewhere and somewhere you have to give them chances. So, sometimes results do suffer, but normally I think we have enough strong bench strength that our results also don’t suffer as much,” he concluded.

India and the West Indies will play the second T20I on Friday, October 9, in Ranchi.

Series schedule

6 October: First T20I, Lucknow (India won by eight wickets)

9 October: Second T20I, Ranchi

11 October: Third T20I, Indore

14 October: Fourth T20I, Hyderabad

17 October: Fifth T20I, Bengaluru