The Promise of Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Credit: indian-cricket-team-updates.blogspot.com

For a while now, India’s batting has been its stronger suit. Even when the Test side occupied the top spot in the world rankings, the efficacy of the bowling lagged some way behind the solid and commanding batting of the likes of Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman. These were some of the best players in the country’s history, and whilst they were at the top of their game, it was difficult for opponents to defeat her.

Dravid and Laxman are now gone, however, and Tendulkar’s flow of runs, once gushing like a flood, has now slowed to a trickle. Consequently, the batting does not currently carry the daunting weight it once did, and no longer poses the fearful threat it did in the recent past. All the more reason, therefore, that India needs to field a bowling attack that will serve them well in all conditions.

The fact that the batting is no longer the force it used to be means that the bowling has to start holding its own. The class and consistency of India’s batting has allowed her to avoid defeat even while the bowling was not up to scratch. On turning tracks in the subcontinent where spin is always the major weapon, India will always have a good chance of overcoming any opponent. But on wickets not as friendly to her traditional strengths, a balanced and penetrative bowling unit has to be the aim of the selectors and captain.

With Zaheer Khan often stricken with injury and probably approaching the end of his international swing bowling days, and with emerging talent Umesh Yadav laid low by injury also, fans of India must have been dubious of the availability of the seam bowling talent their side will need going forward – especially if she is to become a world power again. And after the demolition by England, it seemed there were dark days ahead as far as the pace bowling stocks were concerned.

But just when it seemed like there were no fast bowlers of high quality being developed, there emerged a bowler whose performances have suggested that he will be able to solve at least part of India’s fast bowling puzzle.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismisses Mohammed Hafeez off his first ever ODI delivery (credit: indian-cricket-team-updates.blogspot.com)

Grasping his first international opportunity in the first T20 game against Pakistan in the recent series, Bhuvneshwar Kumar looked immediately at home, taking a wicket in his very first over, an exquisite inswinger that removed the left-handed Nasir Jamshed’s offstump. Remarkably, the delivery made its way through the gap between bat and pad that was created by the outswingers the batsman had received immediately before. Next over, he administered a similar dose to the right-handed Umar Akmal, following three out-swingers with one of the biggest in-swingers you are likely to see; one that recalled the mastery of Pakistan swing-bowling phenomenon, Waqar Younis.

This was no fluke. In subsequent games, Bhuvneshwar did enough to show that he has the capacity to become a major fast bowling force. Indian fans should be rejoicing, for their team has been deficient in this area for a while. And while it remains to be seen if he will successfully make the transition to the demanding Test game, there is reason to be confident that he will do well in that format as well.

He has a good first class record, averaging just over 26, and has already managed five 5-wicket hauls in 47 matches, at a good strike rate of 56.59. His action is simple, and his high right arm delivers an impressively upright seam. The swerve he has been able to generate has been prodigious, and his apparent ability to move the ball both ways at will marks him as a master of the swing bowling art.

Test cricket, with its unlimited overs and long days, will undoubtedly provide a searching examination, but he appears to have the skill, the patience, and the intelligence to excel. In overseas conditions, where India’s spinners will not have conditions to their liking, Bhuvneshwar Kumar could be a key weapon. In time, he, Umesh Yadav, a fit and focused Ishant Sharma, and another newcomer, Shami Ahmed, could form the basis of a pace attack fit to rank with the best.