The fifth and final T20 international match of the five-match series between India and West Indies, held at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, had to be called off due to persistent rain. With the abandonment of this match, the intensely contested series ended in a 2-2 draw. In this final encounter of the series, experienced fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar made his much-awaited return to the Indian team's playing XI after a long gap. Although the rain interruption prevented the match from reaching a full conclusion and denied Bhuvneshwar Kumar an opportunity to bowl, he still successfully etched a massive and unique record in his name, solidifying his position at the top of a distinctive list.
Match Summary and Rain Interruption
The fifth match of the five-match T20 series between India and West Indies took place at the famous M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Weather played a major role throughout the fixture, with rain continuously interrupting the flow of the game. Once the initial spell of rain stopped, the match officials made the crucial decision to reduce the contest to a nine-overs-per-side affair, while subsequently, the toss took place, and after losing the toss, Team India was invited to bat first. 4 overs, when heavy rain returned to the venue. Due to this persistent weather disruption, continuing the game became impossible, and the umpires ultimately decided to abandon the match altogether.
A Four-Year Long Wait and Bhuvneshwar's Return
The biggest talking point of this fixture was the inclusion of veteran fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar in Team India's playing XI. Bhuvneshwar Kumar got the opportunity to play for the Indian team after a lengthy gap of four years. He had been continuously striving for a comeback into the national side through consistent performances in domestic cricket and various other platforms to prove his fitness and form. Finally, the selectors and team management handed him a spot in the playing XI for this fifth T20 match against West Indies. However, it was deeply unfortunate that the match had to be called off mid-way due to rain, depriving Bhuvneshwar Kumar, renowned globally for his exceptional swing bowling, of the chance to bowl even a single over. Despite this, merely featuring in the playing XI was enough to engrave his name in the record books.
Becomes Number-1 Player for Missing Most Matches Between Two T20Is
As soon as Bhuvneshwar Kumar was named in the Indian playing XI for the fifth T20 match against West Indies, he became the number-one Indian player to miss the highest number of T20 International matches between two consecutive appearances. Prior to this feat, the top position in this list was held by young pace bowler Khallel Ahmed, who had missed a total of 104 matches during his career. Meanwhile, Bhuvneshwar Kumar played his next match after missing a staggering total of 106 T20 International matches since his previous appearance in the format. Thus, he surpassed Khallel Ahmed to claim the top spot on this list and registered a unique milestone to his name.
Complete List of Indian Players Missing Most Matches Between Two T20Is
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar - 106 T20 International matches (November 2022 to October 2026)
- Khallel Ahmed - 104 T20 International matches (November 2019 to July 2024)
- Varun Chakaravarthy - 86 T20 International matches (November 2021 to October 2024)
- Sanju Samson - 73 T20 International matches (July 2015 to January 2020)
- Shivam Dube - 70 T20 International matches (February 2020 to August 2023)
All Eyes Now on the Upcoming Tour of New Zealand
With the conclusion of the five-match T20 series against West Indies, which ended in a 2-2 tie, the Indian cricket team's attention now shifts to their next assignment in this format. India is scheduled to tour New Zealand starting from 22 October to play a five-match T20 series. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is also a vital part of the squad selected for this upcoming tour of New Zealand. Consequently, all eyes of cricket fans and experts around the globe will be closely monitoring how Bhuvneshwar Kumar performs during the New Zealand tour, while particularly, the helpful conditions and bouncy pitches in New Zealand are expected to be quite favorable for his trademark swing bowling, giving him an ideal opportunity to deliver impactful performances for his side.