New Delhi, Oct. 7 -- Four years ago, Bhuvneshwar Kumar walked off the field in Napier after what would turn out to be his last T20I for India.

Since then, India witnessed three leadership changes and at least two selection-committee overhauls, and it looked like his India career was over.

But at 36, after years on the fringes and increasingly being spoken about in the past tense, Bhuvneshwar is back and heading to New Zealand again after being selected for the T20I series. This time, though, he arrives with the skills intact but a much stronger body to back them up.

Recurring injuries, particularly in the back and lower body, had made fitness as much a talking point as his swing, seam and control. His comeback, after his potent bowling...