Bhuvneshwar Kumar likely to be dropped from India T20I squad after New Zealand series due to poor performance

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is expected to be removed from India's T20I team following his underwhelming return in the recent five-match series against New Zealand, which India won 3-1. The 36-year-old bowler struggled on batting-friendly pitches and in conditions with short boundaries, conceding 139 runs in the first three matches with just one wicket at an economy rate of 11.58. He was dropped for the fourth match but returned for the final game, where he again had an expensive outing, going wicketless and conceding 41 runs. These performances have cast doubt on his future in India's T20 squad as the team prepares for the 2028 T20 World Cup, with other pacers like Mayank, Arshdeep Singh, and Prince Yadav emerging as alternatives. Separately, Jasprit Bumrah is also unlikely to participate in upcoming T20I matches against Sri Lanka as the management focuses on preserving his fitness for Test cricket and major international events.