"Did you expect to see something new?" - Former India cricketer on Bhuvneshwar Kumar after NZ vs IND 2026 T20Is

After the T20I series between India and New Zealand, former cricketer Ajay Jadeja has questioned whether the Men in Blue think tank was expecting to see something new from Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He pointed out that the veteran seamer did what he had been doing over the past several years.

India won the five-match series against New Zealand 3-2 after the hosts registered a seven-wicket win in the final T20I in Hamilton on Sunday, November 1. Bhuvneshwar registered figures of 0/41 in four overs as the visitors failed to defend a 192-run target.

Reviewing the series on SonyLIV, Jadeja was asked about his thoughts on Bhuvneshwar's international comeback.

"I think it was interesting. It was a high-scoring series. You left him out after three matches and brought him back in the fifth. Did you expect to see something new? If someone has played for India for 12-15 years, he did what we have seen. If you see just the numbers, you will feel he was lacking," he responded.

The former Afghanistan team mentor opined that the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) seamer had an average series.

"However, if you put the numbers of the other four with him, you will feel there is no difference. Even if you go deeper into the numbers, I feel average. Bhuvneshwar Kumar showed the experience you were expecting from him. He did his job, but it wasn't an exceptional series. It was neither very good nor very bad," Jadeja observed.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked up a solitary wicket at an average of 180.00 and an economy rate of 11.25 in four innings in the T20I series against New Zealand. Daryl Mitchell was his only victim in the series, whom he had caught by Tilak Varma at extra cover while attempting a big shot.

"If he is not there, it's a massive void" - Ajay Jadeja on India's bowling without Jasprit Bumrah in NZ vs IND 2026 T20Is

In the same interaction, Ajay Jadeja was asked about India's bowling in Jasprit Bumrah's absence.

"Bumrah is a special bowler. In whichever unit he plays, if he is not there, it's a massive void. There is no replacement for him. No one can compensate for him. He will always be missed. There is no doubt about that, but India will have to get used to playing without Bumrah," he replied.

The cricketer-turned-commentator was also asked about Shreyas Iyer and company playing just one frontline spinner in each of the five games.

"Disappointing for me. That's my thinking, but the Indian team is probably thinking about the future. Varun Chakaravarthy played only the last match, you didn't give Kuldeep Yadav a chance at all, and before leaving, you dropped Axar Patel. Not playing was wrong, and dropping someone so quickly was also wrong," Jadeja responded.

Axar Patel picked up three wickets at an economy rate of 10.53 in the four T20Is he played. While Kuldeep Yadav didn't get to play a single game, Varun Chakaravarthy registered figures of 1/45 in four overs in the final T20I, the only match he played.

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