Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has criticised the BCCI selectors for recalling Bhuvneshwar Kumar to the T20I squad for the five-match series against New Zealand, calling the decision a missed opportunity to give younger fast bowlers international exposure.
Bhuvneshwar returned to India’s T20I setup after a four-year absence but had a modest outing in the series, picking up one wicket while conceding 180 runs across four matches. India won the first three games but lost the final two to finish the series 3-2.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Pathan questioned the timing of Bhuvneshwar’s selection, arguing that the T20 World Cup was still some distance away and India could have used the series to test emerging pace options.
“In my opinion, where did the selectors go wrong? They made a mistake by playing Bhuvneshwar Kumar in this series. Look, there is no doubt that Bhuvneshwar is a good bowler and a senior player. However, playing him here, when the T20 World Cup is nowhere near, was questionable,” Pathan said.
He suggested that the selectors could have instead given opportunities to Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav, allowing them to gain experience in New Zealand conditions.
“By including him in this series, however, you missed out on giving young fast bowlers an opportunity. A youngster could have played in his place and gained valuable experience. Mayank Yadav could have played all the matches and gained that exposure, while Prince Yadav could have played too,” he added.
Pathan clarified that his criticism was not based on Bhuvneshwar’s performances or ability. He acknowledged that the senior pacer had bowled well in the early stages of some spells but conceded runs later, including during the powerplay.
“I’m not saying this because Bhuvneshwar didn’t perform well. That’s not the case. Although he was a bit unlucky. He bowled well in his first two overs, but later, when he bowled the final over of the powerplay, he conceded runs. These things happen to any player. There is no question about his skill,” he said.
The 2007 T20 World Cup winner believes India need to invest in young fast bowlers by giving them opportunities on challenging pitches, where they can develop their skills under pressure.
For Pathan, the bigger concern was the opportunity cost of Bhuvneshwar’s selection, with the New Zealand series offering valuable exposure that emerging Indian pacers could have used in their development.
