Former Indian opening batter and commentator Aakash Chopra questioned the reason behind veteran Indian seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s return to the Indian national team as he was benched for the fourth T20I against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra raised questions over Bhuvneshwar not being selected in the fourth T20I. The seamer managed to pick just one wicket at a disappointing average of 139 and an economy rate of 11.58 in three games.
“Prasidh Krishna has not been selected in the ODI team because he is injured. But it’s not like Bhuvi has been picked in the one-day team. He has played three matches and has leaked so many runs that questions are being asked about his comeback. Amidst all this, he has been made to sit out, which only raises further questions about his comeback,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
“It almost seems like the Indian management is saying we have had enough. So, this comeback is not turning out the way the Indian fans were hoping for. It seems that there is a slight break here as far as his comeback is concerned,” Chopra added.
On the other hand, former Indian middle-order batter Ajinkya Rahane, who recently announced his retirement from all forms of the game, has strongly supported the veteran Indian seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who failed to make an impact in three T20Is against New Zealand.
“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,” Ajinkya Rahane said on his YouTube channel.
“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 said.
