Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled the first no-ball of his T20I career during India’s opening match against New Zealand on Thursday. The veteran seamer, who returned to the Indian side after nearly four years,
overstepped on the first ball of his second over, ending a streak that had lasted since his debut in December 2012. The right arm pacer had bowled 299.3 overs without a single no-ball, placing him second on the all-time list behind England’s Adil Rashid (320.2 overs). For an Indian, he held the record for the most deliveries without overstepping with nearly 1800 balls.
👀 A RARE STREAK COMES TO AN END! 💥
For the first time in his T20I career, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has bowled a no-ball! 😮🏏
Even the most remarkable streaks eventually come to an end! 🔥
#BhuvneshwarKumar #TeamIndia #T20I #Cricket https://t.co/Gs1kMnLi3V
— SportsTiger (@The_SportsTiger) October 22, 2026
Across 14 years and in 90 T20Is, his control and discipline had become his trademark. That streak was broken on his return to international cricket. At 36, his comeback was already a story of great performance being rewarded. He bowled a brilliant first over where he swung the ball both ways and in his second over he bowled a no ball after which the over was taken apart for plenty of runs. He finished his four overs going for 49 runs and ended up wicket-less. It was a tough comeback for the veteran but he did show glimpses of his brilliance in the first over.
WATCH: Abhishek Sharma drops sitter in first New Zealand T20I; Mayank Yadav reacts
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s India return sparks wave of nostalgia among Fans
When Bhuvneshwar Kumar was named in India’s T20I squad for the New Zealand series, Twitter responded with plenty of nostalgia. After nearly four years away from the national side, the 36-year-old’s recall felt personal for many fans who had watched his long wait and consistent IPL performances. Former teammate Suresh Raina called the comeback thoroughly deserved and praised his discipline. Former Indian captain Rohit Sharma was also excited and praised the veteran seamer in his TV show previously.
After being announced in the side for the first T20I against New Zealand, fans celebrated his return hailing him as “Swing King” and celebrating a fairy-tale return.
Rohit Sharma talks about the comeback of Bhuvneshwar Kumar 🥹❤️ https://t.co/9VKaYEflc3
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 22, 2026
🚨BHUVI STARTED WHERE LEFT 🚨
Bhuvneshwar Kumar first over for India after 4 long years ☠️ https://t.co/0KjMpHtV9J
— Kashif (@KashifNdmCric) October 22, 2026
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is with new ball after 3 long years at same New Zealand.❤️🥹 https://t.co/7QUlU3s25V
— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) October 22, 2026
Question – Which Cricketer does Akshay Khanna remind you of? (Sony TV).
Rohit Sharma – “Akshay Khanna has made a fantastic comeback with the movie Dhurandhar. And in our team, the player who has made the best comeback recently is “Bhuvneshwar Kumar”. https://t.co/futb5MskE7
— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) October 22, 2026
The reaction was largely positive as fans were excited to see him in action at the international stage after four long years. The first over against New Zealand set the tone with fans praising his accuracy and ability to swing the ball both ways. There were also a few criticism thrown towards him but the overall mood was positive.
