Experience, form helped Bhuvneshwar’s recall: Kotak

Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s loads of experience, coupled with his strong IPL form over the past two seasons, has led to his recall in India’s T20I squad for the New Zealand series, assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak said here on Wednesday.

The 36-year-old veteran pacer, who last played for India in the November 2022 New Zealand series, has earned a well-deserved return to the national side after impressive performances for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL, having played a key role in RCB’s back-to-back title triumphs in 2025 and 2026. Bhuvneshwar had taken 45 wickets across two seasons (17 in 2025 and 28 in 2026).

India will face New Zealand in a T20I series after the ongoing five-match engagement against the West Indies, and Kotak suggested that the selectors may have felt the need to add experience to an otherwise young bowling group.

“One thing is obviously with the selectors, but I can give you an answer based on what I think. In England, I personally felt that with Bumrah not being around and a lot of young bowlers playing, you can’t beat experience,” Kotak said at the pre-match media interaction ahead of the second T20I against West Indies. “The young bowlers are good, they are performing well and getting selected, but at some stage you also need some experience,” he said.

“That might be one reason. Another thing is that Bhuvneshwar has been doing really well in the IPL for the last two seasons. So the selectors must have thought that, for New Zealand conditions and all, obviously he has been doing well and we need some experience,” he said.

“They must have picked him. That’s what I can think, unless you can think something different,” Kotak added.