Selectors must have thought Bhuvneshwar would be useful in New Zealand: Kotak on the bowler’s recall
Indian cricket batting coach Sitanshu Kotak defended the selectors' decision to recall Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand, citing the need for experience. He also praised the commitment of V.V.S. Laxman in his role at the Centre of Excellence.
Why it matters
The selection process for the Indian national cricket team is a subject of intense public interest and debate, reflecting the high stakes of professional sports management.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s inclusion in the T20I squad for the New Zealand series created enough buzz to spill into India’s press conference ahead of the second T20I against the West Indies — a good two weeks before the Men in Blue take on the Kiwis.
Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak is neither a selector nor a bowling expert, yet he obliged when asked about the reasons behind the 36-year-old’s recall.
“The obvious thing is it’s the selectors [who made the decision]. I can give you an answer on what I think. In England, I felt we needed experience along with the young bowlers as Jasprit Bumrah was also not available there. We all know that you can’t beat experience,” Kotak said at the JSCA Stadium on Thursday (October 8, 2026).
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