India bowling coach Morne Morkel has backed Bhuvneshwar Kumar to rediscover his rhythm, urging the experienced pacer to ignore external pressure and focus on his natural game ahead of the third T20I against New Zealand. India will enter the contest at Wellington’s Henry Stadium on October 29, 2026, with a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. Bhuvneshwar has endured a difficult start to his comeback, conceding 49 runs in the opening T20I and another 50 in the second match in Christchurch.

With an economy rate of 12.37 across the two outings, he has been India’s most expensive bowler in the series so far. His only wicket came in the second T20I, when he dismissed Daryl Mitchell. Despite those figures, Morkel believes the 36-year-old deserves time to settle back into international cricket after spending nearly four years away from the national team. The bowling coach also highlighted the expectations surrounding Bhuvneshwar’s return following his impressive performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

“Look, I’ve got a lot of sympathy for his return. The reason why I say that is, one, there will be expectation after four years to come out. He’s done exceptionally well in the IPL. He’s bowled really well.” Morkel explained that Bhuvneshwar had limited preparation time before returning to international cricket. Although the fast bowler continued training, the transition from domestic franchise cricket to the international stage presented a different challenge, where even small mistakes can prove costly.

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“One is to block the expectation factor out. Two, leading into his selection, I mean, there was a month of cricket where, yes, he trained, but this is a different beast coming and playing international cricket where the margins are small.” He added that the congested schedule had restricted the time available for the veteran pacer to prepare fully for his comeback.

Morkel remains confident that Bhuvneshwar possesses the experience and technical ability required to succeed. His advice has been consistent since the fast bowler joined the squad: avoid trying too hard to meet expectations and allow confidence to develop through regular appearances.

“So the skill and his experience, everything is there. But at the end of the day, we have to respect the game of cricket and you have to be able to allow him to just find his feet in some of the games.” The bowling coach further encouraged Bhuvneshwar to concentrate on his strengths rather than outside criticism. “Just be you. Yes, there will be expectations. But just every game you’ll get better and every game you’ll find your rhythm. So let’s not think about any outside noises.”

Bhuvneshwar last represented India before his recent T20I return against the West Indies in Bengaluru earlier this month in November 2022. He earned another opportunity after delivering impressive performances for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in consecutive IPL campaigns, taking 17 wickets in one season and 28 in the next as the franchise secured back-to-back titles.

Meanwhile, India have rotated their third seamer during the first two T20Is. Mayank Yadav featured in the opening match, returning figures of 1/40, before Prince Yadav replaced him in the second game and claimed 1/30. Morkel clarified that Mayank’s omission was a tactical decision rather than a reflection of his performance. He explained that Prince’s ability to bowl yorkers at the death, combined with his pace and execution, made him a suitable option for the conditions India anticipated.

The coaching staff considered the possibility of bowling second, when a wet ball could make death bowling more challenging. Field dimensions and the ability to execute yorkers consistently also influenced the selection decision. Wellington presents another challenge, with strong winds expected to test India’s bowling attack at Hnry Stadium. The city is widely known for its windy conditions, and the weather has recently been severe enough to disrupt outdoor activities. Rain is also forecast for match day.

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Morne Morkel, who played two Test matches at Wellington’s Basin Reserve during his career with South Africa, acknowledged that the conditions could be unfamiliar to several Indian players. “This is a different beast, this wind. I was in the hotel this morning and the whole building was sort of shaking.”

He urged the squad to approach the conditions positively instead of treating them as an excuse for poor performances.

“You’re either going to see it as a challenge or you’re going to see it as a negative or it’s going to let you down.” Morkel also stressed that India’s bowlers must adapt their plans to the wind, with at least one bowler needing to operate against it rather than relying entirely on favourable conditions. As India prepare for the third T20I, Bhuvneshwar’s ability to regain control and the team’s capacity to adapt to Wellington’s weather could prove important in their bid to extend their series lead.