WTC Final Day 3: "Bhuvi ko kyu nahi khilaya" - India fans question Bhuvneshwar Kumar's exclusion on swinging paradise
Indian fans on Twitter raised questions over swing bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s exclusion from the Team India squad for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar was not part of the 20-member squad that was chosen for the WTC final as well as the five Tests against England.
‘Bhuvi’ started trending on Twitter on Sunday after the Indian pace bowlers failed to make an impact on the Kiwi openers on Day 3 of the WTC final in Southampton.
After Kyle Jamieson’s five-for rolled India over for 217 in their first innings, New Zealand openers featured in a stubborn 70-run stand. The partnership was broken by off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who had Tom Latham caught for 30.
India picked Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Shami as their three pace bowlers, but neither could provide the early breakthrough.
Most Indian fans on Twitter pointed out that Sharma, Bumrah, and Shami are all seam bowlers. And, what India required under the conditions was a swing bowler like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who could move the ball around in the air.
Some even questioned the logic of not playing Mohammed Siraj as one of the three fast bowlers since he is the only genuine swing bowler in the current team.
Here are some Twitter reactions criticizing the exclusion of Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the WTC final:
Why was Bhuvneshwar Kumar not picked for the England tour?
Although Bhuvneshwar made an impressive comeback in the recent limited-overs series at home against England, media reports claimed that the BCCI was not willing to risk the injury-prone bowler on a long and grueling tour of England.
A source was quoted as saying in an IANS report:
“The selectors think that he is still not fit to play long format, especially on such a long tour.”
Bhuvneshwar Kumar last played a Test for India against South Africa in Johannesburg in November 2018. Although he made his Test debut in 2013, the 31-year-old has only featured in 21 Tests, in which he has claimed 63 wickets.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s Test record in England
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has played five Tests in England, all during the 2014 tour. He claimed 19 wickets in the series at an average of 26.63 with two five-wicket hauls. He also contributed with the bat, scoring three half-centuries.