Bhuvneshwar Kumar's much-anticipated return to India's T20I side hasn't gone as well as expected so far. There was the one wicket, of Daryl Mitchell, in the second T20I against New Zealand. But he has conceded 49 and 50 runs, respectively, in the two games from his quota of overs, giving him an economy rate of 12.37, the poorest among the India bowlers.
"Block the expectation factor out" is Morne Morkel's suggestion, with India's bowling coach saying he had asked the senior bowler to "just be you and connect with that".
"Look, I've got a lot of sympathy for his return," Morkel said at a press conference ahead of the third T20I, to be played on Tuesday. "The reason why I say that is, one, there will be expectation after four years to come out. He's done exceptionally well in the IPL. He's bowled really well. One is to block the expectation factor out.
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"Two, leading into his selection, I mean, there was a month of cricket where, yes, he trained, but this is a different beast coming and playing international cricket where the margins are small. So he had to come in with limited training because of the schedule to get himself ready."
Bhuvneshwar is 36, and his last appearance in any format for India before the fifth T20I against West Indies in Bengaluru earlier this month was in November 2022. But he forced his way back after being successful in consecutive IPL seasons, picking up 17 and 28 wickets as his team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, won both titles.
"So the skill and his experience, everything is there. But at the end of the day, we have to respect the game of cricket and you have to be able to allow him to just find his feet in some of the games," Morkel said. "And for me, that has been the message from the start when he joined the squad, is to, you know, don't chase anything. Just be you. Yes, there will be expectations. But just every game you'll get better, and every game you'll find your rhythm. So let's not think about any outside noises. Just be you and connect with that."
In the two T20Is so far, both in Christchurch, India swapped their third quick bowler around. Mayank Yadav played the first, returning 1 for 40, and was replaced by Prince Yadav for the second game, with the bowler returning 1 for 30.
"That was just purely a tactical sort of change we felt was needed at that venue," Morkel said. "It's no secret that Prince, at the death first, bowling his yorkers, he's somebody that executes that quite well. And it was sort of just felt that if we - the learnings from the game one - had to bowl second and the ball is wet, and, you know, taking into consideration the dimensions of the field, to be one of the guys with a high percentage of nailing the yorkers.
"I felt Mayank bowled really well in that first game. So it's definitely not because of performance. But again, Mayank, for me, I think it's sometimes good for a young boy like that to play a game, give him a little bit of time to reflect, understand bowling, because he's still raw, and he still needs to understand a lot in terms of how to read and how to set up an over. So I think for a young boy, I'd say that's not a bad thing.
"And then Prince, obviously, you know, he can bowl fast, again, in all phases of the game. And his execution is just slightly higher."
In Wellington, where the third T20I will be played, the India players will have to contend with one other unknown: the fierce wind. It's unofficially called the "windiest city in the world", and it's windier than usual at the moment, with the city's waterfront closed after cyclists were knocked off their bikes by the gusty winds. Rain is also forecast for match day.
"This is a different beast, this wind. I was in the hotel this morning, and the whole building was sort of shaking," Morkel said, only half-joking. "So I think it's going to be a new sort of thing that we add to our books for the guys to get used to and accustomed with, with a quick turnaround. But yeah, for us, again, it is looking forward to that challenge and taking it head-on, and not really making excuses.
"I think this wind can impact a lot of things. It can impact batting, your stance, it can impact many factors. But like I said, you've got a short little window where a warm-up and a training that you can now try and get an understanding from how it's going to affect you. And then when it comes to game time, you have to block that out, and really just try and execute every delivery and make every ball count."
Morkel himself played two Tests at Wellington's Basin Reserve - the T20I on Tuesday will be played at Hnry Stadium - and had words of wisdom for the players who hadn't been to this part of the world before.
"I think we've spoken about Wellington, especially before the start of the tour. We've planted those seeds. I spoke to some of the boys who were back in India last night and they asked what the conditions are like. And I said, make sure you get a very strong fan at home and you walk into the fan because that is going to be your preparation," Morkel said with a laugh.
"But yeah, like I said, when I toured here with South Africa, we had certain ways that we went about trying to get used to it. I don't think you can ever get used to it in a space of two, three, [or] four days. So like I said, this is the way you're going to frame the whole situation.
"You're either going to see it as a challenge or you're going to see it as a negative or it's going to let you down. And hopefully we can get those guys in the mental space where they look forward to that challenge. And at the end of the day, you need somebody to put their hand up and bowl into the wind because we can't have four guys bowling with the wind."
India are 2-0 ahead in the five-match T20I series after the two games in Christchurch.