India's bowling coach Morne Morkel has urged senior pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar to block out external expectations and focus on rediscovering his rhythm after an expensive start to his much-anticipated return to international cricket. With India leading the five-match T20I series 2-0, Bhuvneshwar will be keen to improve his performance in the third match against New Zealand on Tuesday.
The 36-year-old has conceded 49 and 50 runs in his four-over spells in the first two T20Is, managing just one wicket, that of Daryl Mitchell in the second match. His economy rate of 12.37 is currently the highest among India's bowlers in the series.
Despite the difficult start, Morkel has backed the experienced seamer, pointing to his impressive performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the challenges of returning to international cricket after a lengthy absence.
Morkel Backs Experienced Pacer
Speaking ahead of the third T20I, Morkel acknowledged the pressure surrounding Bhuvneshwar's comeback after nearly four years away from international cricket.
The right-arm pacer last represented India in November 2022 before returning to the T20I side earlier this month. His successful IPL campaigns, in which he claimed 17 and 28 wickets in consecutive title-winning seasons with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, helped him earn another opportunity at the international level.
Morkel said expectations had naturally risen because of Bhuvneshwar's recent success, but stressed that the bowler needed time to settle back into the international environment.
He also highlighted the limited preparation time available to the senior pacer before the series, explaining that international cricket demands a different level of precision, with very little room for error.
According to Morkel, Bhuvneshwar possesses the necessary skills and experience, and the focus now is on allowing him to regain confidence and find his rhythm without worrying about outside pressure.
The bowling coach's message was clear: Bhuvneshwar should trust his abilities, avoid chasing results and concentrate on executing his plans one delivery at a time.
India Make Tactical Changes to Pace Attack
India have also experimented with their third fast-bowling option in the opening two matches. Mayank Yadav featured in the first T20I, returning figures of 1 for 40, before Prince Yadav replaced him in the second game and took 1 for 30.
Morkel clarified that the change was tactical rather than a reflection of Mayank's performance.
He explained that Prince's ability to execute yorkers consistently at the death made him a suitable choice, particularly with the possibility of bowling second under wet-ball conditions and considering the dimensions of the ground.
Morkel praised Mayank's performance in the opening match and said the young fast bowler could benefit from time to reflect on his game and develop a better understanding of reading batters, setting up overs and managing different phases of an innings.
He added that Prince offered pace and the ability to bowl across all phases of a T20 match, with slightly better execution of the required yorkers at this stage.
Wellington Wind Presents a Fresh Challenge
As India prepare for the third T20I in Wellington, the weather could provide another significant test. The city is known for its strong winds, which have reportedly been particularly intense in recent days, while rain is also forecast for match day.
Morkel admitted that the conditions were unusual, even for an experienced international cricketer, revealing that the wind was strong enough to make his hotel building shake.
He warned that the gusts could affect several aspects of the game, including batting stance, balance and bowling execution. However, he encouraged the players to use their limited warm-up and training time to understand the conditions before focusing entirely on their skills during the match.
Having played two Test matches at Wellington's Basin Reserve during his career with South Africa, Morkel also shared his experience with players unfamiliar with the conditions.
He acknowledged that adjusting to the wind in just a few days would be difficult but urged the squad to view it as a challenge rather than an excuse for poor performances.
Morkel emphasised that India would need at least one bowler willing to operate into the wind, rather than allowing all their bowlers to take advantage of favourable conditions.
India Aim to Extend Series Lead
India head into the third T20I with a commanding 2-0 lead in the five-match series after winning both opening matches in Christchurch.
While the team will look to maintain its winning momentum, Bhuvneshwar's return to form remains an important talking point ahead of the Wellington encounter. With Morkel backing his experience and ability, the veteran pacer will have another opportunity to silence doubts and demonstrate why he remains a valuable option for India's T20I bowling attack.
