Bhuvi’s Selection a Mistake? WC Winner Questions BCCI

Irfan Pathan Questions Bhuvneshwar Kumar's T20I Selection

Former India all rounder Irfan Pathan has questioned the selectors’ decision to bring Bhuvneshwar Kumar back into India’s T20I team for the five match series against New Zealand.

Swing King returned to international cricket after a gap of four years but failed to make the expected impact, managing just one wicket while conceding 180 runs in four matches.

IrfanPathan believes the selectors missed an opportunity to give young fast bowlers valuable international experience.

Despite, Bhuvneshwar’s recent performances for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) also make his selection an interesting debate.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Irfan Pathan called Bhuvneshwar’s inclusion in the series a mistake.

He argued that the next T20 World Cup is still some time away and the team could have used this opportunity to test young fast bowlers such as Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav.

Irfan Pathan also clarified that his criticism was not about Bhuvneshwar Kumar‘s bowling ability. He acknowledged that the experienced pacer bowled well in parts of the series but could not control the runs in some important overs.

According to Irfan Pathan, giving young bowlers opportunities on New Zealand pitches would have helped them gain valuable experience and prepare for future international assignments.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s age is a factor, but his RCB record cannot be ignored At 36, Bhuvneshwar is certainly in the latter part of his career. Despite, his age has not stopped him from delivering consistent performances in the IPL.

The right arm pacer played an important role in RCB’s maiden IPL title winning campaign in 2025, picking up 17 wickets in 14 matches. He followed it up with an even better season in 2026, taking 28 wickets in 16 matches.

His 2026 performance was particularly impressive, as he finished among the leading wicket takers of the tournament. These numbers also explain why the selectors considered bringing him back into the national T20I setup.

While Bhuvneshwar’s IPL record justified giving him another opportunity, his New Zealand performances did not go as expected. He conceded 180 runs in 16 overs and picked up only one wicket, finishing the series with an economy rate of 11.25.

Irfan Pathan’s argument about giving opportunities to young bowlers also has merit. Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav are among the fast bowling options India need to assess for the future, and international exposure could help their development.

Bhuvneshwar’s IPL performances show that he still has the ability to compete at a high level, but his international comeback has not gone according to plan.

The bigger question for the selectors is how to balance the experience of senior players with opportunities for the next generation of Indian fast bowlers.