Bhuvneshwar Kumar faces an arduous challenge of remaining relevant in the T20 format as a young Indian team is expected to face tough resistance from New Zealand in the second T20 International here today. The series-opener in Wellington was abandoned due to inclement weather and the Indian players must be itching to get onto the park which, inarguably, has the most scenic backdrop.

On this tour, the presence of a near 33 year-old Bhuvneshwar is one such dilemma that the team management might have to handle. Is Bhuvneshwar going to be around for the 2024 T20 World Cup with a sharp decline in his pace? Not many T20Is are lined-up next year and he is largely becoming a single-format player, so where does it leave him?