Bhuvneshwar Earns Stunning India Recall for New Zealand T20Is After Four Years

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is back in India blue. The 36-year-old seamer has been named in the 16-member squad for the five-match T20I series in New Zealand starting October 22 in Christchurch, ending an absence from international cricket that stretched back to November 2022 — when, fittingly, he last faced the same opposition in Napier.

The recall is a triumph of persistence and IPL form. Bhuvneshwar took 28 wickets in IPL 2026, finishing as the second-highest wicket-taker as Royal Challengers Bengaluru defended their title — back-to-back championships in 2025 and 2026 for the veteran. India are banking on his new-ball swing and death-bowling craft in conditions expected to help seamers.

Shreyas Iyer continues as captain with Tilak Varma as his deputy for the tour, which also includes five ODIs and two Tests. Varun Chakaravarthy returns after recovering from the side strain that ruled him out of the Asian Games, while legspinner Ravi Bishnoi has been dropped. Full squad: Iyer (c), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma (vc), Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav.

Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara summed up the mood: "I never thought he will make a comeback, but it's a great call... one of the most talented and skillful bowlers I've seen in Indian cricket." At 36, with 90 wickets from 87 T20Is, Bhuvi gets the full-circle homecoming few saw coming.