Ashwin questions whether Bhuvneshwar can hold mid-130s pace after long layoff

Ravichandran Ashwin has raised a sharp question about Bhuvneshwar Kumar's ability to sustain mid-130 kph pace at international level following his return from a long layoff. The former India spinner made the comments after Bhuvneshwar played in the second T20I against New Zealand — a match India won to take a 2-0 series lead.

For T20, that pace threshold matters. Ashwin stressed it's not just about having experience; Bhuvneshwar needs to consistently hit that range to remain effective. It's a timing issue too. Irfan Pathan separately urged Bhuvneshwar to take more risk with the ball during the series, adding to the pressure just before the third T20I in Wellington on Tuesday.