Bhuvneshwar Kumar returns to India T20I squad after nearly four years for New Zealand tour

The Indian men's cricket team has reached New Zealand for the upcoming series. A five-match T20 International series is set to begin on October 22. Experienced pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has returned to the squad for the tour.

Bhuvneshwar earned his place in the Indian team on the strength of good performances in the IPL and the UP T20 League. After nearly four years, Bhuvi will again be seen in the India jersey, and all eyes will be on him in this series. The question is how his T20 performances in New Zealand have been so far.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar's T20 International record in New Zealand has not been very impressive. He has played five matches on New Zealand soil and taken only four wickets. He bowled 19 overs and conceded 160 runs, with an economy rate of 8.40. It is said to be his most expensive economy rate in any country.

His bowling average in New Zealand is 40.00. His best figures here are one wicket for 12 runs. He will therefore face the challenge of improving these numbers in the coming series.

Though his New Zealand numbers are modest, his overall T20 International career has been highly effective. He has taken 90 wickets in 86 innings for India. With this, he is India's seventh-highest wicket-taker in T20 Internationals. His career economy rate is 6.96. In the format he has also taken five wickets in an innings twice, and his best figures are five wickets for four runs.

Only 4.4 per cent of the wickets Bhuneshwar has taken in his T20 International career have come in New Zealand. Bhuvi's strength is swing and bowling to an accurate length and line. On New Zealand pitches, he can trouble opposition batters by swinging the ball both ways.

After strong performances in the IPL and the UP T20 League, there had been calls for Bhuvi to be picked for the international side. He now has the chance to prove himself again in international cricket.