As India’s senior seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar made his comeback to the international arena, renowned Indian commentator Aakash Chopra has heaped praise on the bowler after his “sensational” bowling in the fifth and final T20I against England on Saturday (March 20) in Ahmedabad.
He returned Indian cricket team in the recently-concluded five-match T20I series against England at home after more than one year owing to his injury concern, but he didn’t show signs of rustiness,
The right-arm seamer, who is known for rattling the batsmen with his swing and pace, didn’t take so many wickets for India against England, but managed to put a halt to the flow of the runs, as he scalped just 4 wickets at an economy rate of 6.38 – best among all the bowlers in the T20I series.
The 31-year-old celebrated pacer returned with a sensational spell in the final T20I, excellent figures of 2/15 in his four overs to help India restrict England to 188/8 to script a 36-run win in the final game to win the T20I series 3-2 on Saturday in Ahmedabad.
After his Player of the Match show against England, the former India batsman Chopra said Bhuvneshwar alongside Jasprit Bumrah will be the key to India's chances at the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 at home.
He further said the pace duo of Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar must do well in the forthcoming T20 World Cup 2021 to be held in India in October-November if Team India wants to lift the trophy.
Chopra said on Star Sports: “One hundred percent. If India has to win the 2021 World Cup, it is necessary for Bumrah and Bhuvi to do well. Bumrah is evergreen, he did not have any injury issue. He has been bowling well and his workload is being managed.”
He further added, “We were waiting eagerly when Bhuvi will come, the ball will swing and he will take the wickets. He might have taken only four wickets in the series, today he took two wickets but his bowling was sensational and we can say that Bhuvi is back.”
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Meanwhile, former India wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel also hailed Bhuvneshwar for his swing bowling as he helped India break the 130-run partnership between Jos Buttler and Dawid Malan on Saturday to win the thrilling series-decider in Ahmedabad.
Patel signed off by saying, “The way Bhuvneshwar Kumar swung the ball has been a big plus point of the series. When it is a 225-run match where the opposition team is making 190 runs, there to concede just 15 runs in four overs and a wicket at the crucial time.”
Noteworthy, Bhuvneshwar was also named in India’s ODI squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against England starting Tuesday (March 23) in Pune, Maharashtra.
