Irfan Pathan calls Bhuvneshwar Kumar's T20I selection a mistake
Former all-rounder Irfan Pathan questioned the timing of the pacer's inclusion in the series against New Zealand.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has questioned the decision to include Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the T20I team for the recent series against New Zealand, according to the Times of India. Pathan stated that playing the experienced pacer was a mistake because the T20 World Cup is not imminent.
Bhuvneshwar returned to the T20I side after four years but took one wicket while conceding 180 runs across four matches. In the first T20I, he went wicketless and conceded 49 runs in four overs. He took his only wicket of the series in the second match by dismissing Daryl Mitchell, but conceded 50 runs.
Pathan noted that while Bhuvneshwar is a good bowler and senior player, the timing of his selection was questionable. He suggested that playing him would have made more sense if the goal was preparing for the 50-over World Cup.
The former all-rounder also said that the selection meant young fast bowlers missed opportunities to gain international experience. He mentioned that players such as Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav could have played the matches to gain exposure on New Zealand soil.
Pathan added that his comments were not solely about performance, noting that the pacer was sometimes unlucky. He said the question remains whether the series would have been a better opportunity for a young fast bowler to develop on true pitches.