Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif opened up on veteran Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) pace bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s performances in the T20I series against New Zealand. The pace bowler returned to the Indian
team after four years but has not had the best of starts to his return as well. He proved expensive in the third T20I as well.

“It is a matter of concern now. His pace has dropped a bit. The bowling has not been as disciplined. A lot of things have happened that we are not used to seeing from him. But I still feel that, in phases, he is doing well. Maybe that nervousness is still there. I still feel we should look at him in the remaining two games. He will be disappointed himself. I would want to see what he does in the last two games,” he said in a video on his YouTube channel.

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“The way India are playing, even the biggest player or captain comes under pressure. I saw Santner. His brain was not working at all in captaincy. He himself came to bowl so late. But when you are getting hit like this, your mind does not work. There was no clarity of thought because of the pressure,” he again shared.

However, Mohammad Kaif further lauded India’s batting and credited the unit for the dominant display in New Zealand. In the third T20I, they chased down 199 runs in just 13.2 overs with six wickets to spare.

“I would want to credit the Indian batters a lot. This was not an easy series. But the Indian batters have played really well. They never played this well, even in Ireland or Zimbabwe. They have dominated here. This is a big achievement. The team has passed in this test. New Zealand is a very good team. Gautam Gambhir, as a coach, also deserves credit. Credit to Shreyas, the captain, as well. They have maintained the mindset and remained dominant under a tight schedule,” Mohammad Kaif concluded.