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Dinesh Karthik hails selectors' courage in recalling Bhuvneshwar Kumar

India has reinstated Bhuvneshwar Kumar to the T20I squad for their upcoming series against New Zealand, marking his return after a four-year absence from international cricket. The 36-year-old fast bowler, who last played in November 2022, was recalled following a standout season in IPL 2026 with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where he took 28 wickets at an economy rate of 7.95, securing the franchise’s title defense.

His selection was praised by teammate Dinesh Karthik, who highlighted Kumar’s unmatched skill set, including his ability to swing the ball both ways and perform under pressure in crunch situations. With 90 wickets in 87 T20Is at an average of 23.10, Kumar’s consistency and experience make him a valuable asset for India’s pace attack, which also includes Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, and Mayank Yadav, alongside seam-bowling all-rounders Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shivam Dube.

The BCCI selection committee, led by Pragyan Ojha, made the bold decision to bring Kumar back, recognizing his enduring talent and the impact he can still deliver at the highest level.

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