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Bhuvneshwar Kumar in focus as India seeks series-clinching win in Wellington

India faces New Zealand in the third T20I at Basin Reserve, aiming to extend an unbeaten run dating back to 2020.

By , Editor

· 2 min read

Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (file photo) Photo: Akshayparmar.gu / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

India won the first two T20Is against New Zealand in Christchurch. Bhuvneshwar Kumar returns after four years on the sidelines and faces a key test in windy conditions at Basin Reserve.

Key takeaways

  • India won the first two T20Is against New Zealand in Christchurch
  • Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned after four years on the sidelines and conceded 49 and 50 runs in his four-over spells
  • Morne Morkel stood firmly behind the 36-year-old Meerut man and said comeback man Bhuvneshwar needs to find his feet at the international level without being put under pressure
  • The trio hasn’t exactly joined the party yet
  • Glenn Phillips scored two half-centuries in the middle-order

India will play New Zealand in the third T20 International at Basin Reserve in Wellington on Tuesday, Sportstar reported. The match offers India a chance to clinch the series and continue an unbeaten run that dates back to 2020. India has used 13 players in the first two games, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi replacing injured Ishan Kishan and Prince Yadav replacing Mayank Yadav in the second match.

India blanked New Zealand 5-0 when the Men in Blue visited this part of the world in 2020. In their next visit in 2022-23, the Indians won the only match that was not wrecked by inclement weather, while the series-decider ended in a tie. Shreyas Iyer’s men will be keen to ensure that the record stays intact despite the absence of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who has been rested, and all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who is on a long injury lay-off. The side definitely seems on track, having won the high-scoring opening two games in Christchurch. Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry are absent as part of New Zealand’s own workload management plan.

India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel stood firmly behind the 36-year-old Meerut man. He was clear that comeback man Bhuvneshwar needs to find his feet at the international level without being put under pressure. Bhuvneshwar went for 49 and 50 in his four-over spells across two games in Christchurch. Basin Reserve is open from three sides and gusty wind often traverses the Basin Reserve Ground.

Canny operator Bhuvneshwar Kumar and the ever-so-consistent Arshdeep Singh will have their task cut out when a focussed Indian team eyes a series-clinching win in Wellington. Arshdeep’s ability to push the ball across the right-handers and occasionally bend it back or straighten it could create issues for the New Zealand top order comprising Finn Allen, Tim Seifert and Daryl Mitchell. The trio hasn’t exactly joined the party yet, and pressure is mounting as the series progresses.

The heavy-lifting has mostly been done by Glenn Phillips in the middle-order, with two half-centuries, and by Bevon Jacobs in the last game. It is early summer in New Zealand, and an evening match in chilly and windy conditions could also test the technique of Indian batters, who love hitting through the line. The Christchurch track didn’t have enough juice even though the odd ball gripped onto the surface.

India will look to seal the series in Wellington. If successful, the team will extend its unbeaten run that dates back to 2020.

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