Santner warns Bhuvneshwar could trouble New Zealand in Christchurch T20I

Mitchell Santner warned that Bhuvneshwar Kumar could pose a serious new-ball threat to New Zealand ahead of the opening T20I of India’s tour at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Thursday, October 22. He made the comments ahead of the T20I series.

Bhuvneshwar, 36, returned to international consideration after four years when he was named in India’s squad for the series against the Black Caps. He was then added to India’s squad for the final T20I against the West Indies in Bengaluru but did not bowl because the match was abandoned due to rain.

The New Zealand skipper stressed Bhuvneshwar’s capacity to extract movement and the difficulty that poses for visiting batters. "I think Bhuvi will love these conditions in New Zealand. If there's anything in the wicket, he'll find something out of it," Santner said ahead of the T20I series. Santner also suggested New Zealand’s batters would have their task cut out against the Indian pacer and added: "[Even] on some flat ones in India, still manages to nip the ball and swing the ball. So with the new ball out here especially, he'll be a challenge."

Bhuvneshwar does not have an imposing T20I record in New Zealand, having taken just four wickets in five matches since 2019. Santner said Bhuvneshwar and the other Indian bowlers could get some breathing space after bowling on the pitches used during the West Indies series, where even totals of 240 were not safe. "I mean, in India, it's pretty challenging as a bowler these days, like we've seen in the recent series [against West Indies], 250 getting chased down — who wants to be a bowler? — but he might like it out here a little better," Santner added.

Bhuvneshwar and the Indian bowlers will look to make an impact when the series opener takes place on Thursday, October 22, at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Santner's remarks were delivered ahead of that match.