“Don't think we should judge him or overthink how he has bowled” - Former teammate's huge remark on Bhuvneshwar Kumar after NZ vs IND 2026 3rd T20I

Former India cricketer Ajinkya Rahane believes Bhuvneshwar Kumar should not be judged or overanalysed based on his bowling performances in the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand. His remarks came after the third T20I, played in Wellington on October 27.

Put in to bat, New Zealand posted 198/3, with Daryl Mitchell leading the charge with an unbeaten 89 off 52 balls. Bhuvneshwar once again struggled to make an impact, returning figures of 0/40 in four overs. In response, Abhishek Sharma starred with a blistering 113 off 38 deliveries, hitting nine fours and 11 sixes, as India chased down the target in 13.2 overs to secure a six-wicket victory.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Rahane noted that Bhuvneshwar would assess his shortcomings and identify areas where he could have performed better. He further highlighted the fast bowler's comeback at the age of 36 as the biggest takeaway, adding that things could change quickly and Bhuvneshwar could even claim a five-wicket haul in the next match. Rahane said:

“I don't think we should judge him or overthink how he has bowled. He is an experienced player and would certainly reflect on where he fell short and what he could have done better. As far as his performances are concerned, ups and downs are part of the game. Sometimes, as a bowler, you may not find your rhythm, but that is no reason to write him off. Bhuvneshwar Kumar would certainly know what he could have done better.

“For me, the biggest story is that he has made a comeback at this age. We should learn from this that, as a bowler, you must never give up. Keep doing your job, and things will eventually fall into place. You never know; he could take five wickets in the next match, and things could change immediately. Bhuvneshwar is a bowler who certainly reflects on his game, but he is also confident in his abilities and is a confident person overall,” he added.

Across three matches in the series, the pacer has taken just one wicket while conceding runs at an economy rate of 11.58.

“Displayed great rhythm” - Ajinkya Rahane on India seamer

During the same discussion, Ajinkya Rahane praised Arshdeep Singh for his impressive rhythm, saying:

“Talking about Arshdeep, he looked in very good form and displayed a great rhythm. He picked up wickets in the powerplay, both in the previous match and in the third T20I. He is a very important player for the Indian team. He has played more than 100 T20Is and is approaching the 150-wicket mark.”

Arshdeep Singh leads India's bowling charts in the series with four wickets from three innings at an economy rate of 9.25.

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