"Take a bit more risk" - Former PBKS pacer's advice to Bhuvneshwar Kumar ahead of 3rd NZ vs IND 2026 T20I

Former India and Punjab Kings (PBKS) pacer Irfan Pathan has urged Bhuvneshwar Kumar to take a bit more risk with the ball in the ongoing T20I series in New Zealand. Irfan opined that the veteran pacer has bowled a bit short in his comeback series and needs to be a bit fuller to be effective.

Bhuvneshwar has featured in both the matches of the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand. He registered figures of 0‑49 from four overs in the first T20I in Christchurch and 1‑50 from four overs in the second T20I at the same venue.

During a discussion on Cricinfo, Irfan weighed in on why Bhuvneshwar has been ineffective in the series so far. He commented:

"What I saw in the first two games, Bhuvi is slightly shorter. Still a good length, around 7‑7.5 meter mark, but guys like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, they can afford to go slightly more fuller, depending on the kind of swing he's getting. What happens when you play after a long period of time, your mindset becomes slightly defensive. He's [anyways] not a very attacking bowler as far as the wicket-taking ability is concerned.

"The kind of wrist he has, the kind of swing he has, what I want him to do is to take a bit more risk, especially early on when he has a new ball," Irfan went on to add.

Bhuvneshwar dismissed Daryl Mitchell for six in the second T20I in Christchurch, claiming his first wicket after making a comeback to the Indian team.

"It's not easy" - Irfan on tough comeback for Bhuvneshwar

Irfan admitted making a comeback to international cricket is not easy even if one has been playing the IPL. He opined that things would have been slightly easier for the bowler had he made his comeback in familiar conditions in India. The former all-rounder commented:

"It's not easy. Especially, you know that you have not played for many years for India. Obviously, you keep doing your work in the IPL, you keep performing really well. But that switch of playing for India at the top level and different pitches, if this was India, he would have been able to adjust it from the first match. But because you are playing overseas, you take time to adjust."

Bhuvneshwar has the experience of 90 T20Is in which he has claimed 91 wickets at an average of 23.93 and an economy rate of 7.10, with two five-fers and three four-fers.

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