Kris Srikkanth serves brutal remark to Bhuvneshwar Kumar amid NZ vs IND 2026 series
Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth has expressed disappointment with Bhuvneshwar Kumar's performance in India's ongoing T20I series in New Zealand, saying he cannot work out what has gone wrong with
Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth has expressed disappointment with Bhuvneshwar Kumar's performance in India's ongoing T20I series in New Zealand, saying he cannot work out what has gone wrong with the recalled seamer. The assessment followed a third expensive outing of the tour. Bhuvneshwar finished with 0/40 from four overs in Wellington on Tuesday as New Zealand posted 198/3, his second wicketless spell in three matches.
He had gone for 49 without a wicket in the first T20I in Christchurch and taken 1/50 in the second. His series figures read 12 overs, one wicket, 139 runs, an economy of 11.58, and an average of 139.
Reacting to Bhuvneshwar Kumar's sub-par showing in the series, Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel, Cheeky Cheeka:
"I am not sure what's wrong with Bhuvneshwar Kumar. His pace is low, and I am not sure what has happened to him. His ball is lacking any zip and is going to the batter like a harmless flower. In the IPL, he bowled with such great zip."
Bhuvneshwar, 36, had not played for India since 2022 and was brought back for the five-match series after a strong IPL 2026 campaign in which he took 28 wickets at 7.95 an over.
India seal the series in Wellington despite Bhuvneshwar Kumar's struggles
India's batters ensured Bhuvneshwar Kumar's struggles did not cost the team. Chasing 199 in the third T20I, Abhishek Sharma struck 113 off 38 balls, reaching his hundred in 35 deliveries, and shared a 133-run opening stand with 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (45 off 19) as India finished on 199/ 4 in 13.2 overs.
The visitors scored 118 without loss in the powerplay, a record for a men's T20I, and won with 40 balls to spare to take an unassailable 3-0 series lead. Daryl Mitchell's unbeaten 89 off 52 had earlier underpinned New Zealand's 198 for 3.
Despite his overall struggles, Bhuvneshwar's last over, the 18th of the innings, went for only nine runs and played a vital role in India restricting the Kiwis to under 200.
The five-match series continues with the fourth T20I at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday, 30 October.
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