Why Bhuvneshwar Kumar moved from 15 to 87 for India’s second T20I vs New Zealand

Bhuvneshwar Kumar switched to jersey number 87 for the NZ vs IND 2nd T20I on October 24, 2026, saying the digits add up to six and that other preferred numbers were already taken. The change drew attention because the India pacer has long been associated with the number 15.

Kumar said the choice followed a simple arithmetic preference and the availability of numbers. “I wanted the total to add up to six, because I had tried several numbers, including 15, but they were already taken by other players. This was the only number left that added up to six, so I think that’s why I picked it. I’m also used to seeing the number 15,” Bhuvneshwar said. He also described an earlier personal adjustment: “I didn’t even have Kumar on my jersey initially. It took me a while to get used to the fact that this was my jersey and that I was going to wear it,” he said.

Beyond the jersey detail, Kumar reflected on how his craft has developed over time, noting his bowling foundation in movement, control and length. “I’ve evolved a lot, and I think the IPL has played a huge role in that,” he said, linking his individual development to changes driven by franchise cricket.

Kumar addressed tactical shifts in T20 cricket, pointing to rules that have altered batting approaches. “I know the Impact Player rule is there, but it has opened up the mindset of batters considerably. They go after the ball from the very first delivery. However, I’ve always believed that we tend to treat bowlers as victims, but they aren’t,” he said.

He set out a specific view of a bowler’s agency in the format. “As a bowler, you can control the game and make batters hit where you want them to,” Kumar said, arguing that bowlers retain tools to influence outcomes despite aggressive batting.

Kumar described a broader evolution in scoring patterns and formats. “There’s no doubt that the game has evolved significantly over the last four years. And it’s not just franchise cricket; international cricket has evolved too,” he said. “The way scores are being made now, 200 has almost become a par score. You feel that even 200 isn’t enough sometimes. But yes, the game has evolved with time.”

Kumar summarized the relationship between a symbolic change and his cricketing approach by contrasting the simplicity of his number selection with the complexity of adapting as a bowler. His jersey number may have been chosen with a simple calculation, but his approach to bowling rests on a more complex equation: adapting to the changing demands of T20 cricket without surrendering control of the contest.

As batters continue to push the limits of scoring, Bhuvneshwar's message was unambiguous: bowlers are not merely there to contain the damage. They still have the power to dictate how a game unfolds.