Former India bowling coach Bharat Arun has urged young speedster Mayank Yadav to complement his raw pace with precise direction and disciplined execution of plans as India prepare for the T20I series in New Zealand, beginning 22 October 2026. Arun, who worked closely with Mayank as bowling coach of Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2026, said pace alone will not make the pacer a lethal force at the international level.

Why Pace Alone Is Not Enough

Mayank has emerged as India's premier express option in the T20I format, particularly with Jasprit Bumrah's workload being carefully managed ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. In six outings against Zimbabwe and the West Indies, Mayank has claimed nine wickets in 22 overs, with his standout effort being a spell of 3 for 36 in Ranchi — a game in which he removed Nicholas Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer with short balls before shattering Rovman Powell's off-stump with a 149.5 kmph thunderbolt.

'See, I was very happy to see Mayank working out at a good pace against the West Indies. He is a bowler who dwells so much on his pace. Yes, it is good to have pace... But even more important is the direction and the execution of your plans,' Arun said in a virtual interaction on Tuesday. He added: 'If a bowler is able to execute what he wants to do... more often, if you succeed in what you're executing, then your pace becomes lethal, and that is exactly what Mayank should be looking to do.'

Challenges of New Zealand Conditions

New Zealand, currently in mid-spring, presents a distinct set of challenges. Arun highlighted that bowlers must contend with wind direction, short boundaries at several venues, and conditions that encourage swing for longer spells than Indian surfaces allow. 'In New Zealand, it may swing for about four or five overs at the max,' he noted, compared to just two or three in India. He stressed that success in limited-overs cricket ultimately comes down to a bowler's range of variations and the ability to surprise batters who are quick to assess strengths.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar's Return Welcomed

Arun gave an emphatic endorsement to the return of veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar to the T20I squad after a gap of four years. 'I wouldn't look at age as a factor in Bhuvi not playing international cricket for two to three years... If somebody is doing really well and if the selectors believe and the team management believes that he can deliver, I think they are all up for it,' Arun said. He added that Bhuvneshwar's ability to move the ball, his current form, and his experience in New Zealand conditions make him a valuable asset — and, in Arun's assessment, good enough to play for 'the next one and a half years' at least.

Siraj's Rhythm and Hardik's Absence

Mohammed Siraj's dip in form since the Test series in Sri Lanka — which followed a rare two-month break — was also addressed by Arun. 'Sometimes after a long gap for any sportsman, it takes a little while to shed those small things that creep into your game,' he said, expressing confidence that Siraj would regain his bowling rhythm with focused work alongside his coach. On Hardik Pandya's continued absence due to injury, Arun was candid: 'He is a fabulous all-rounder, and we'll definitely miss somebody with his stature and class. But then if he's not available, there's nothing much we can do about it.'

India A Tour and the Road to Tests

Around the time India plays ODIs in New Zealand, a Dhruv Jurel-led India A side will undertake a parallel tour, playing three red-ball games to help players like Akash Deep, Mukesh Kumar, Auqib Nabi, Washington Sundar, and Manav Suthar acclimatise ahead of the Test matches in Wellington and Christchurch. On the scheduling overlap with the Ranji Trophy, Arun took a pragmatic view, arguing that India A tours have historically aided preparations and that the absence of top players creates opportunities for emerging domestic talent. New Zealand, who have selected a pace-heavy squad for the T20Is, are expected to exploit home conditions aggressively — a factor Arun said the Indian management must factor into its planning. The T20I series gets under way on 22 October 2026.