Ramakrishnan Sridhar says Bhuvneshwar Kumar's return makes a big difference for India in New Zealand

Former India fielding coach Ramakrishnan Sridhar said Bhuvneshwar Kumar's inclusion in the T20I squad will help India adapt to New Zealand conditions ahead of the five-match series starting October 22. Sridhar said the seamer's ability to exploit lengths on flat pitches will be valuable during the white-ball leg of the tour.

Sridhar told Zee News Digital that New Zealand pitches are typically batting-friendly in limited-overs cricket, but bowlers can still gain an edge by pitching fuller and tempting batters into mistakes. He added that the spring conditions could make lengths around the six-metre mark more effective and that Kumar is suited to those surfaces.

The former fielding coach said the quicker India's bowlers adjust their lengths, the better their chances of making an impact. India's tour includes five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests, with the ODI series beginning November 4.