Bhuvneshwar Kumar has made a sensational comeback to the Indian cricket team for the five-match T20 series against New Zealand, marking his return nearly four years after his last international appearance in November 2022. The series runs from October 22 to November 1, and Bhuvneshwar’s inclusion alongside young pace options Arshdeep Singh, Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav has drawn attention for its potential developmental value.

R Sridhar, India’s former fielding coach, spoke about Bhuvneshwar’s role in the squad. Sridhar emphasised that beyond his function as a backup bowler, Bhuvneshwar’s presence offers significant mentoring opportunities for the younger fast bowlers in the squad.

“I think I didn’t mention it; I just thought about Bhuvi being a backup bowler for us in this series, but also just the fact that he’ll be able to mentor a few young fast bowlers who are in the squad itself is exciting for me, for them to watch how he’s handling pressure. How… Clear is about his execution. How he’s got multiple options for the same field set. How… He is always out thinking the batter, one step ahead of the batter,” Sridhar responded to CricTracker’s query during an interaction arranged by Sony Sports Network.

Backup bowler and mentor for young pacers

Sridhar explained that young bowlers can observe and learn from Bhuvneshwar’s approach to handling match situations and pressure. The former fielding coach highlighted how Bhuvneshwar’s ability to recover after being hit for boundaries and finish overs effectively demonstrates qualities that developing fast bowlers need to understand.

“On the field, these are the things that they can observe about what Bhuvi is doing and also discuss with him. You know? A young bowler may not see different options in front of him and they lose clarity at the top of the mark when they are under the pressure. But someone like Bhuvi, despite being under pressure, the way he comes back after being hit for a boundary. Or the way he finishes the over with the last ball,” Sridhar added.

Informal learning during the tour

Sridhar stressed that the learning opportunities extend beyond match situations to informal settings during the tour. He noted that young fast bowlers can gain valuable insights from Bhuvneshwar through conversations and interactions in various settings.

“So these are the things our young bowlers can observe closely from Bhuvi and learn from him and talk to him, pick on his brains during bus journeys, during airport lounges, during the breakfast table. During coffee chats. So I think these are the times when our young fast bowlers can really pick on Bhuvi’s experience and learn a lot from him. So having Bhuvi on the tour is going to be invaluable for these young bowlers,” he concluded.

Bhuvneshwar’s recent form in the IPL 2026 demonstrated his continued effectiveness as a bowler. He took 28 wickets at an economy rate of 7.95 during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s successful title defence, finishing as the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament. The squad for the New Zealand series is led by captain Shreyas Iyer, with Tilak Varma as deputy.

Jos Buttler had surgery on his left hamstring on October 12, 2026, and now faces a lengthy lay-off. No timeframe for his return has been provided by the medical team.

Buttler, 36, shared the news through an Instagram post on Monday, October 12, appearing on a hospital bed with his left leg in a brace and giving a thumbs up.

He wrote in the caption, “Succesful [sic] surgery and on the road to recovery,” and added, “Feeling more motivated than ever!”

The hamstring problem first surfaced on September 24, 2026, when England lost the second ODI against Sri Lanka at Headingley. Buttler left the field after being hurt mid-innings but returned briefly to bat on before eventually pulling up again. He had made 69 from 49 balls in that knock, hitting five sixes, before the injury ended his involvement.

Which assignments could Buttler miss because of the surgery?

Buttler had already been withdrawn from England’s tri-series assignment in Pakistan before the operation, with the touring party set to leave later this week. The surgery on October 12, 2026, now casts doubt over several further commitments across the coming months.

The ECB was scheduled to name its squad for the Australia white-ball tour on October 13, 2026, and Buttler appears certain to be absent from that series in November. His franchise contract with Durban’s Super Giants for the SA20, a competition that opens on January 17, 2027, is also now uncertain given that no recovery date has been set.

Notably, on the same day as his operation, the ECB confirmed one-year contract extensions for both Buttler and leg-spinner Adil Rashid. Buttler’s revised deal will run out ahead of the 2027 50-over World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in South Africa.

What form had Buttler shown before the injury struck?

Buttler had been producing some of the most consistent white-ball batting of his career in the period leading up to the Headingley match. Across nine white-ball internationals after the T20 World Cup, he accumulated 466 runs, a sequence that included the 69-ball knock at Headingley that ended with him leaving the field.

Earlier in 2026, Buttler contributed 87 runs as England reached the semi-final of the T20 World Cup. At domestic level, he captained Manchester Super Giants to the Hundred title and became the first male cricketer to reach 15,000 career T20 runs, a landmark that underlined his standing in the shortest format.

This is not the first occasion Buttler has been troubled by his left hamstring. A comparable injury to the same area kept him sidelined during the 2024 IPL season, and the recurrence is understood to be a concern for the England medical staff. No official statement on the nature or extent of the surgical procedure has been released.

Former Zimbabwe fast bowler and umpire Sarah Dambanevana passed away in Harare on Monday at the age of 36. According to a statement released by Zimbabwe Cricket, she had been receiving hospital care since undergoing a medical procedure in March.

Dambanevana made her senior international umpiring debut on September 2, 2023, and went on to officiate at several major tournaments. She was part of the officiating team at the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the UAE and the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 in India and Sri Lanka, where she featured in the tournament’s historic all-female panel of match officials.

One of the significant milestones in her career came at the 2023 Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa, where she officiated in the final between India and England. With that assignment, Dambanevana became the first Zimbabwean woman to officiate in a World Cup final.

Over the course of her senior international umpiring career, she officiated in 63 matches, including 42 women’s T20Is, 11 women’s ODIs and 10 men’s T20Is. She also worked in domestic cricket and international youth tournaments, further establishing her presence in the game. In 2022, she was included in the ICC Development Panel of Umpires.

Before taking up umpiring, Dambanevana represented Zimbabwe as a player between 2009 and 2014. She was also part of the country’s campaign at the 2011 World Cup Qualifier, marking an important chapter in her association with Zimbabwean cricket.

Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani paid tribute to Dambanevana, remembering her contributions to the sport both as a player and an umpire.

“Sarah served Zimbabwe with distinction, first as a player and then as an umpire whose ability earned her a place on the world stage,” ZC chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani was quoted as saying by Cricinfo.

“Watching her stand in a World Cup final was a moment of immense pride for our cricket community and our country. She showed young Zimbabwean women that they belong at the highest levels of the game, including in roles where opportunities had long been limited.

“Through her achievements, she opened doors and gave others the confidence to pursue their own ambitions. We will remember her dedication, her professionalism and her willingness to help others grow. Her passing leaves a painful void in our cricket family, but the example she set will continue to inspire those who follow in her footsteps.”