Bhuvneshwar Kumar has picked up one wicket in three T20Is but at an economy of 11.58.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has gone for 49, 50, and 40 runs in the three T20Is in New Zealand, picking up one wicket in the series.
According to Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar's place in the starting lineup would be in jeopardy if the Indian team management, led by Gautam Gambhir and Shreyas Iyer, decides to rotate for the next two games.
"Bhuvneshwar Kumar in his third match is a miss for me. Look, anybody can go for runs. I would actually take the previous two games of Bhuvi. I thought he bowled really well upfront. He swung the ball and bowled the third over inside the Powerplay in the previous game," Ashwin said after the 3rd T20I on SonyLiv.
"So, it's very understandable to have one bad over in the back half, but in this game, I thought his pace was down. The swing was missing. Just didn't look like he was running up to the crease as well as he could. Looked a bit off, and I think it's been a very big miss," he added.
"The way Bhuvi has bowled, a spinner or Mayank (Yadav) might take his place, and I will not be surprised. We can also rotate the way New Zealand is doing. But before you look to do that, we must keep in mind that the first two games were on big grounds where you could've used spinners. In the third T20I, even New Zealand's spinners were of no use. In the next two games, the grounds will be even smaller. So, I am not sure if spinners can play there," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
Mayank Yadav played in the first T20I and picked 1/40 but was then benched for Prince Yadav. Spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy have not played a single match in the series so far. However, since India has already clinched the series victory, the pair might be included in the last two T20Is.
After an outstanding IPL 2026 season, Bhuvneshwar returned to the Indian team, a comeback that had long been awaited. Yet the 36-year-old pacer has found it difficult to rediscover his best form while wearing Indian colors.