Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned to India’s Playing XI in the first T20I against New Zealand in Christchurch, marking his first appearance for the national team since 2022. The 36-year-old pacer earned a recall nearly four years later following a series of consistent performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL). India pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar revealed that he never chased the Indian jersey during his four-year absence from the national team and credited his family for playing a key role in his comeback.
Speaking in a video uploaded by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Bhuvneshwar reflected on his journey back to the national side and explained how staying in the present, without setting expectations for himself, helped shape his approach over the last three to four years.
India head into the second T20I with a 1-0 lead in the five-match series after securing a four-wicket victory in the opener. Sanju Samson laid the foundation for the chase with a fluent 67 off 33 balls, while Naman Dhir produced an explosive unbeaten 42 off 15 deliveries to guide India home with two balls to spare. Captain Shreyas Iyer also contributed 42 off 28 balls. Earlier, Glenn Phillips smashed an unbeaten 82 off 40 balls, while Finn Allen scored 45 off 24 deliveries as New Zealand posted 225/4, their highest total in home T20Is.
