IND vs NZ: Ajinkya Rahane backs Bhuvneshwar Kumar to bounce back against New Zealand

The return of veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar to the national team after four years has not gone quite as everyone had hoped. In the three matches played so far, Bhuvi has taken only one wicket, and he has conceded more than 40 runs in each game.

However, former batter Ajinkya Rahane has come out in support of Bhuvneshwar, noting that while his comeback hasn't lived up to expectations, he has shown some positive signs—such as his ability to consistently swing the ball and trouble the batters. 

Rahane did acknowledge that Bhuvneshwar Kumar has not been as effective with the new ball as anticipated. Rahane advised against overanalyzing Bhuvi’s performance, adding that there is currently no compelling reason to drop him from the side.

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,” Rahane said.

“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.

Ajinkya Rahane also touched upon Arshdeep Singh’s bowling, stating that he has been bowling well and taking crucial wickets for the team at the right moments.

“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,” Rahane said. 

India has already secured the ongoing T20I series by winning the first three matches. The fourth T20I between the two sides will be played in Auckland on October 30; Team India will be aiming for a clean sweep, while New Zealand will look to salvage some pride. Team India might make a few changes for this match, leading to speculation that Bhuvi could potentially be dropped.