Bhuvneshwar Kumar Aims for Milestones in New Zealand T20I Series

As Team India prepares for a five-match T20I series in New Zealand, all eyes are on Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is set to make a significant return to international cricket. With the chance to achieve two major milestones, including reaching 100 T20I wickets and 300 international wickets overall, Bhuvneshwar's performance could further cement his legacy in the sport. Fans are eager to see if he can deliver on this promising opportunity after a successful IPL season with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 20, 2026, 22:59 IST

Bhuvneshwar Kumar's Return to International Cricket

As Team India embarks on a tour of New Zealand for a series of five T20 matches, cricket enthusiasts are keenly anticipating the return of Bhuvneshwar Kumar. His participation could mark significant milestones that would further solidify his status as a modern cricketing legend.

Bhuvneshwar's first T20I appearance in four years was cut short when the fifth T20I against the West Indies at Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium was abandoned due to rain. Fans are eager to see the 'Swing King' back in action during the upcoming T20Is in New Zealand. If selected, this would be his first international outing since the 2022 T20 World Cup semifinal against England in Adelaide. Since then, he has experienced a resurgence with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL, claiming 45 wickets in 31 matches with an impressive average of 22.55 and an economy rate of 8.52, contributing to the franchise's consecutive titles in 2025 and 2026.

Upcoming Milestones for Bhuvneshwar

Currently, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has taken 90 wickets for India in 87 T20Is, maintaining an average of 23.10. His record includes two five-wicket hauls and three four-wicket hauls. With just 10 more wickets, he could become the fifth Indian bowler to achieve a century of T20I wickets, joining the ranks of Arshdeep Singh (145), Jasprit Bumrah (126), Hardik Pandya (114), and Axar Patel (113). Additionally, with a total of 294 wickets across all formats, the 36-year-old has the opportunity to reach 300 international wickets, making him the 14th Indian bowler and the ninth pacer to accomplish this feat.

India’s T20I Squad

The squad for the T20I series includes: Shreyas 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, and Kuldeep Yadav.