Bhuvneshwar Kumar To Be Dropped After Just 3 Games? R Ashwin Gives Brutal Reality-Check

Legendary India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin stated that India pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar could be dropped after just three games during their ongoing T20I series against New Zealand. Coming back into the Indian team after nearly four years, Bhuvneshwar hasn't had a return to remember. Despite India winning all three T20Is so far, Bhuvneshwar has managed to take just a single wicket, conceding at an economy rate of 11.58. Ashwin opined that the Gautam Gambhir and Shreyas Iyer-led Indian team management could choose to rotate for the final two games and, in that case, Bhuvneshwar's spot in the playing XI could be under threat.

"The way Bhuvi has bowled, a spinner or Mayank (Yadav) might take his place, and I will not be surprised," Ashwin stated, speaking on his YouTube channel.

"We can also rotate the way New Zealand are doing. But before you look to do that, we must keep in mind that the first two games were on a big ground where you could've used spinners. In the third T20I, even New Zealand's spinners were of no use. In the next two games, the grounds will be even smaller. So I am not sure if spinners can play there," he added.

Mayank Yadav played the first T20I of the series and finished with better figures than Bhuvneshwar and Arshdeep Singh. However, he had to make way for Prince Yadav, who has since blown hot and cold in the previous two games.

Spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy are yet to play a single game in the ongoing series. However, with India having already wrapped up the series win, the duo could feature in the final two T20Is.

Bhuvneshwar made a long-anticipated comeback into the Indian team after a stellar IPL 2026 season. However, the 36-year-old pacer has struggled to find his best form in blue.

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