Sports · Cricket · 51 mins ago
Morkel urges Bhuvneshwar to stay calm after costly T20I return
Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned to India's T20I team after a four-year gap.
In his first two matches against New Zealand, he conceded 99 runs and took one wicket.
India are 0-2 down in the five-match series, with the third match next.
Bowling coach Morne Morkel said Bhuvneshwar should stay calm and focus on his own game rather than outside expectations.
The 36-year-old had limited time to prepare for international cricket, though he had taken 17 wickets in the 2025 IPL and 28 in 2026.
Morkel believes Bhuvneshwar has the skill and experience to improve as he gets more chances.
The team will continue the series with the third T20I.
India bowling coach Morne Morkel urged Bhuvneshwar Kumar to stay calm and focus on his own game after the fast bowler’s return to T20Is.
Bhuvneshwar conceded 99 runs and took one wicket across India’s first two T20Is against New Zealand.
India trailed 0-2 in the five-match series ahead of the third match.
Morkel said expectations and limited preparation time had made the comeback challenging.
He backed Bhuvneshwar’s skills and experience, saying he could find his rhythm with more opportunities.
- Who
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar, India’s veteran fast bowler, and bowling coach Morne Morkel.
- What
- Morkel urged Bhuvneshwar to ignore outside pressure and focus on his own game after an expensive T20I return.
- When
- Ahead of the third T20I in the five-match series. The articles were published on October 26, 2026.
- Where
- In the India-New Zealand T20I series; the articles do not state a venue.
- Why
- Bhuvneshwar had conceded 99 runs and taken one wicket in the first two matches after returning to the T20I side following a four-year gap.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Bhuvneshwar returned to India’s T20I side.
Bhuvneshwar conceded 49 runs.
Bhuvneshwar conceded 50 runs and took one wicket across the first two matches.
Morkel urged Bhuvneshwar to stay calm and focus on his game.
- Runs conceded
- 99 in the first two T20Is
- Wickets
- 1 across the first two T20Is
- Series score
- India trailed New Zealand 0-2 in a five-match series
- Return gap
- Four years away from the T20I side
- IPL wickets
- 17 in 2025 and 28 in 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
Just be you.
One challenge is to block the expectation factor out.
The skill and his experience, everything is there.