‘The selectors have chosen him’, Sitanshu Kotak backs Bhuvi
Indian team’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has made a big statement on the return of veteran fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He said that Bhuvneshwar’s consistent good form in the IPL and his vast experience playing in overseas conditions could be the main reasons behind his call-up for the T20 series against New Zealand. Bhuvneshwar has regained his place in the Indian T20 team on the basis of his excellent performance in IPL 2026.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar last played international cricket in November 2022 in a T20I format against New Zealand. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has taken 90 wickets in 87 T20Is for India at an average of 23.10. “Look, one thing is clear: the selectors have chosen him, but I can give my opinion,” Kotak said at a press conference ahead of the second T20I against the West Indies in Ranchi.
Kotak continued, “In England, I personally felt that in the absence of Bumrah, and among the new bowlers, we all know that experience is unmatched. They too are good and performing well and are being selected. But at some stage, you need experience. So, that could be one reason. Secondly, Bhuvneshwar has been performing very well in the IPL for the last two seasons. So, the selectors may have chosen him keeping in mind the conditions in New Zealand and the fact that he is playing well and we need some experience. That’s all I can think of, unless you have something else in mind.”
Premature to label Vaibhav a superstar just yet: Kalpil Dev
The way Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has captured everyone’s attention with his batting at such a young age has led to him being hailed as the next big star of Indian cricket. However, former Indian captain Kapil Dev has advised a cautious approach regarding this young batsman. While acknowledging Vaibhav’s talent, Kapil stated that it would be premature to label him a superstar just yet.
Kapil Dev believes that Vaibhav possesses immense potential for the future. However, he noted that while many players have emerged with great talent in the past, their careers did not always progress as expected. Therefore, he feels it is not appropriate to make definitive judgments about Vaibhav at this stage.
PSL’s schedule to clash with the Indian Premier League
The 12th edition of the Pakistan Super League will be played between March 18 and May 2 in 2027. This will mark the third consecutive time that the PSL’s schedule will clash with the Indian Premier League. This decision was made after extensive discussions between the PCB and the franchises, although some concerns have been raised regarding broadcasting revenue and advertising.
The IPL also takes place in the March-May window, which is why the world’s largest franchise league is expected to once again cause significant financial and commercial losses for the Pakistan Cricket Board. From the PSL’s inception in 2016 until 2024, the tournament was held annually in February and March. However, starting in 2025, it was shifted to the April-May window.
For more news & updates, follow The Crichub on Instagram, X and YouTube
