'Should retire': Bhuvneshwar Kumar brutally trolled by fans as India pacer ends comeback NZ series on disappointing note

'Should retire': Bhuvneshwar Kumar brutally trolled by fans as India pacer ends comeback NZ series on disappointing note originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.KEY TAKEAWAYS:India pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar went for 41 runs in four overs in the Hamilton T20I.He managed one wicket in his comeback series, and fans demanded his retirement.A 20-run sixth over helped New Zealand reach 59 for 1 after the powerplay in the 5th T20I. Fans torch Bhuvneshwar Kumar as comeback tour flops in New ZealandDisgruntled fans have asked Bhuvneshwar Kumar to retire, and the criticism on social media is a sign of how quickly the mood has turned against the India pacer after his comeback series against New Zealand ended on a flat note in Hamilton, where he conceded 31 runs in his first three overs of the fifth T20I.His return to the national T20I side was widely welcomed when it was announced. He was 36 and had spent four years out of the setup, so the cricket community saluted his grit and determination, and many believed he could solve some of India’s bowling worries.MORE: Pokemon celebration: Tickner celebrates uniquely after dismissing Naman DhirThose hopes were never quite met in the first three matches, because he returned figures of 0/49, 1/50 and 0/40. The team management then dropped him for the fourth game in Auckland, which India lost by a heavy margin of 87 runs.Hamilton gave him one more chance to change the story, but it only added to the criticism. New Zealand had a chase of 192 to deal with, and Bhuvneshwar’s expensive start to the innings handed them an early edge.MatchFigures1st T20I0/492nd T20I1/503rd T20I0/404th T20IDid not play5th T20I0/41 in 4 oversMORE: Sooryavanshi dropped again: Fans fume as Abhishek & Sanju fail in HamiltonTim Seifert demolishes Bhuvneswar Kumar in HamiltonThe damage was done mainly in the sixth over, which cost 20 runs. Tim Seifert was the batter on strike for almost all of it, and he used the full length to his advantage.Bhuvneshwar began with a length ball outside off, which Seifert swung at and missed. The second delivery was full on the stumps, and Seifert backed away and hit it over extra cover, with the ball dribbling past a chasing infielder for four.The next ball was full around off and right in the slot, and Seifert cleared his front leg to send it over the sightscreen for six. A length delivery, possibly a knuckleball, followed, and the batter repeated the shot for another six over the sightscreen.There was a brief pause after that, since the fifth ball was full and wide, and Seifert nearly fell while reaching for it, getting it to cover with no run. He ended the over with a slice over short third for four, which took the total to 20 from the over.MORE:'Can't make everyone happy': Gambhir's blunt response to criticism over dropping SooryavanshiFans troll Bhuvneshwar Kumar after the Hamilton T20IOne fan questioned the wisdom of the whole selection by listing his numbers. @KashifNdmCric wrote: “Does India really need Bhuvneshwar Kumar in T20Is. 1st t20i : 4-0-49-0 2nd t20i : 4-0-50-1 3rd t20i : 4-0-40-0 4th t20i : dropped 5th t20i: 3-0-30-0*”Does India really need Bhuvneshwar Kumar in T20Is. 1st t20i : 4-0-49-0 2nd t20i : 4-0-50-1 3rd t20i : 4-0-40-0 4th t20i : dropped 5th t20i: 3-0-30-0* https://t.co/kWx60A3FQK— Kashif (@KashifNdmCric) November 1, 2026Whereas, @harshitholic said: "Seifert just ended Bhuvi’s career in front of my eyes."Seifert just ended Bhuvi’s career in front of my eyes— Indraz (@harshitholic) November 1, 2026A second fan took aim at the hype around his return, and brought the IPL into the debate.@Thereddevil900 posted: “19 overs 170 runs and one wicket, Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s epic India return which was hyped as the second coming of a saviour has shown reality to all the RCB fans . happy retirement Bhuvneshwar Kumar”.19 overs 170 runs and one wicket, Bhuvneshwar Kumar's epic India return which was hyped as the second coming of a saviour has shown reality to all the RCB fans . happy retirement Bhuvneshwar Kumar https://t.co/eSOb2yV52O— Rohitan4ever (@Thereddevil900) November 1, 2026Another account suggested a send-off for the veteran in a sarcastic manner. @cricweek wrote: “Bhuvneshwar Kumar should be given a farewell series 🐐 #NZvIND”.Bhuvneshwar Kumar should be given a farewell series 🐐 #NZvIND— CRIC WEEK (@cricweek) November 1, 2026One more fan made a joke about how short the comeback has been. @internetumpire said: “My Goat Bhuvneshwar Kumar made comeback and gave retirement in a single series”My Goat Bhuvneshwar Kumar made comeback and gave retirement in a single series https://t.co/Q1IpY3a1Gd— Heisenberg ☢ (@internetumpire) November 1, 2026Meanwhile, @Kushacritic wrote: “Bhuvneshwar Kumar should retire from international cricket after this series.”Bhuvneshwar Kumar should retire from international cricket after this series.— Kusha Sharma  (@Kushacritic) November 1, 2026Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s comeback deserves a fair verdictBhuvneshwar Kumar’s figures in this series are poor, and nobody can pretend otherwise. An economy rate in the double digits is a problem for any T20 bowler, and the Seifert over in Hamilton showed how much trouble a full ball can cause on a small ground.At the same time, calls for retirement after one series feel hasty. He was out of the side for four years, and a bowler of his age does not just slip back into the rhythm of international cricket. A return after such a long break needs time, and three games and a fourth-match drop are a thin sample.The more important question belongs to the selectors, and not to the bowler. They brought him back to solve a problem, and the problem is still there, so the plan needs to be reviewed honestly. It may be that his skills no longer suit the demands of the powerplay or the death overs in this format.Fans are entitled to be frustrated, because results matter and the numbers are on the table. Even so, a player who earned a recall through effort deserves a respectful debate, and any decision about his future should come from the team management after a proper review, not from a trending hashtag.For all the latest cricket news, opinion, and commentary, and to share your voice, head to our Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter) pages.