On his return, Bhuvneshwar Kumar said not to chase anything, block expectations

Bowling coach Morne Morkel has offered Bhuvneshwar Kumar some reassuring news as the veteran pacer returns to international cricket after four years. Speaking to the press on the eve of the third T20I against New Zealand in Wellington, Morkel said he sympathized with the fast bowler, who is struggling to find his feet again in international cricket.

Bhuvneshwar, 36, returned to India’s T20I squad for the fifth match against West Indies in Bengaluru on October 17, but did not get a chance to play as rain interrupted the contest. However, his first two outings against New Zealand were challenging. He conceded 49 runs without claiming a wicket in the series opener in Christchurch before giving away 50 runs in the second T20I in which he claimed a wicket in the powerplay.

“Look, I have a lot of sympathy for him coming back,” Morkel said.

“The reason I’m saying that is firstly, after four years, there are expectations. He’s done exceptionally well in the IPL. He’s played really well. One of them is to block the expectation factor.”

Bhuvneshwar earned his recall after two productive IPL seasons in which he stood out despite playing on flat pitches that provided limited help to the bowlers. The medium pacer took 17 wickets in the 2025 season before returning with 28 in 2026 and playing a key role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s back-to-back triumphs.

The 36-year-old had not played competitive cricket for four months before his return to the national team. He was called up for the West Indies series while preparing for India’s tour of New Zealand at the Center of Excellence in Bengaluru, leaving little time to transition from training to international match conditions.

Acknowledging the lack of match practice, Morkel pointed out that preparing for a return to international cricket is different from just training with the team.

“Two, what led to his selection, I mean, there was a month of cricket where, yes, he was training, but this is a different beast coming in and playing international cricket where the margins are small. So he had to come in with limited training because of the schedule to prepare,” Morkel said.

“LET HIM FIND HIS FEET”

Despite Bhuvneshwar’s experience, Morkel believes the expectations surrounding his comeback could make the transition difficult. Temper has proven himself in international cricket and the IPL, but returning after a prolonged absence brings its own problems, especially when he is expected to make an immediate impact.

Alongside the technical work the two have been doing behind the scenes, Morkel has tried to ease the burden by urging Bhuvneshwar to focus on his strengths rather than the hype surrounding his return.

“So the skill and his experience, it’s all there. But at the end of the day we have to respect the game of cricket and you have to be able to allow him to just find his feet in some games,” Morkel said.

“And for me, that was the message from the beginning when he joined the team, you know, don’t chase anything. Be yourself. Yes, there will be expectations. But every game you’re going to get better and every game you’re going to find your rhythm. So don’t think about any outside noises. Just be yourself and connect with it.”

The conditions in New Zealand offered another reason to expect Bhuvneshwar to make an impact. Before the series New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner backed the Indian pacer to enjoy the conditionspointing to its ability to extract movement even from surfaces that appear flat. However, the opening two matches at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch proved challenging for the Indian bowlers. with New Zealand 225 for four in the first T20I and 180 for five in the second.

Bhuvneshwar will be hoping to make better use of the conditions as India prepare for the third T20I in Wellington on Tuesday. With Jasprit Bumrah’s absence on the tour, the veteran pacer also has an opportunity to lead a relatively young pace attack.

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