New Delhi, February 5: In Indian cricket, few bowlers are remembered for their exceptional line-length and swing, despite not having express pace. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is undoubtedly one of them. While he may not possess the speed of other fast bowlers, he has never let that deter him.
Under the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Bhuvneshwar prioritized line-length and swing. He is capable of delivering both inswing and outswing, with his inswinger being particularly lethal. This effectiveness is why Dhoni often called upon him to bowl with the new ball. Bhuvneshwar has been just as adept at dismantling batsmen with an old ball.
Thanks to Bhuvneshwar’s outstanding bowling, India achieved a memorable victory against England at Lord’s in 2014. Although India lost the Test series 3-1, this win at Lord’s remains etched in the hearts of cricket fans. It marked one of the most memorable performances of Bhuvneshwar’s early career.
On February 5, Bhuvneshwar Kumar celebrates his birthday. Let’s take a closer look at his remarkable bowling and international career.
In the Test played at Lord’s on July 17, 2014, India batted first and scored 295 runs. Despite the low score, Indian bowlers showcased their talent in the first innings. Bhuvneshwar Kumar took 6 wickets for 63 runs in 31 overs, including 10 maidens, restricting England to 319 runs. The English batsmen appeared completely helpless against his swing. In the second innings, Indian batsmen displayed patience, scoring 342 runs. England was bowled out for 223 runs, leading India to a historic victory by 95 runs.
Looking at Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s international career, he has taken 63 wickets in 21 Test matches, with his best performance being 6/82 at Lord’s in 2014. He made his Test debut against Australia in Chennai in 2013 and played his last Test against South Africa in 2018.
In One Day Internationals (ODIs), Bhuvneshwar has claimed 141 wickets in 121 matches, with a best performance of 5/42. He debuted in ODIs against Pakistan in 2012 and played his last ODI against South Africa in 2022.
In T20 Internationals, he has taken 90 wickets in 87 matches, with a best performance of 5/4. Bhuvneshwar made his T20 debut against Pakistan in 2012 and played his last T20 against New Zealand in 2022.
Hailing from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has shouldered the bowling responsibilities for India across all formats for years. Despite being away from international cricket for some time, his swing and controlled bowling continue to be fondly remembered.
