Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif highlighted that an Indian cap is being given for free in the recent past, but veteran seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has earned it back through his consistent performances. Kumar was added to India’s T20I squad for the series against New Zealand on Tuesday.
The UP seamer bagged 28 wickets in 16 matches of IPL 2026 and had played an instrumental role in taking Royal Challengers Bengaluru to glory. The swing master has performed consistently in the recent past and also scalped 14 wickets in 11 matches while leading Lucknow Falcons in UP T20 League 2026.
“The Indian cap is being given away for free right now. Players are being called because we do not have bowlers. But Bhuvi has not taken it for free. He has earned this cap. He has broken the doors and come back. Even when he was dropped, it was because of a few bad games. Look at his India record. Look at this economy. See the bowlers now, there is no limit to leaking runs. It is better to bring a tried and tested player back. So this is absolutely the right call,” Mohammad Kaif said in a video on his YouTube channel.
Kaif recalled that Kumar was made a scapegoat for India’s loss against Pakistan in the 2021 T20 World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup semifinal loss against England, but feels the batters’ tentative approach led to the team’s downfall.
“India lost to Pakistan by ten wickets in the 2021 World Cup, and Bhuvi was made the scapegoat. Batters should have been made the scapegoats. You scored just 150 runs. Most of those batters are still playing today. But he was removed. And another game against England in 2022. These two matches led to his downfall, but the real culprits were the batters in both games. Both times, scores were under par. He was never bad as such, but he was made the scapegoat. It was not his bowling form. It was because of big defeats,” the former RCB batter reflected.
India’s tour of New Zealand starts on October 22 with the first T20I at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval.
