As India gears up for the T20 World Cup in 2024, the spotlight turns to crucial squad selections. Among the discussions surrounding potential inclusions, one name stands out – Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Despite being overlooked in recent T20I selections, there are compelling reasons why India should reconsider him for their plans in the upcoming tournament. In this article, we explore three key factors that make a strong case for Bhuvneshwar Kumar‘s inclusion in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign.
Ashish Nehra Voices Concerns on T20 World Cup for Bhuvneshwar Kumar
The national selectors have recently sidelined India’s T20I player for November 2022. Despite his strong domestic performance, the selection panel opted to exclude him from the upcoming South Africa tour. Where his expertise and current form could have been beneficial in favourable conditions.
Despite widespread confusion among cricket enthusiasts nationwide. Former Indian seamer Ashish Nehra expressed his frustration clearly. In a JioCinema discussion, Nehra emphasized that the selectors should not overlook Bhuvneshwar Kumar entirely.
“Only one name comes to my mind, because you are going to South Africa. And you have picked a lot of fast bowlers, and that name is Bhuvneshwar Kumar,” Nehra said. “I understand that you have other new-ball options. You have Arshdeep Singh, and Mukesh Kumar is playing.”
“However, if you see all the options, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is an experienced bowler. Who I will say is still doing well,” he continued. “The selectors should keep an eye on him. They shouldn’t forget him totally. Especially when you talk about T20 and 50-over formats.”
“When you talk about white-ball, Bhuvi can fit in any team, especially when he is bowling well. Because he does not lack at all in terms of skill and experience. It’s a different thing that he didn’t play against Australia here. But he should be kept in the scheme of things.”
Here are the 3 reasons:
1. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has proven himself in past T20 World Cup
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has undeniably proven himself as a match-winner for India throughout his years of service since his debut. The UP seamer consistently delivers his best on the field, utilising his adeptness in swinging the ball both ways.
Recently, he has added pace and seam to his repertoire, introducing a new dimension to his game. His ability to bowl slower variations and yorkers during the death overs poses a threat to any opposing team. In T20 cricket, Bhuvneshwar stands as an all-round package, and India would be making a mistake by not selecting him for the 2024 World Cup.
2. World leading records in T20 World Cup
After the team management excluded him from Test cricket in 2018, Bhuvneshwar has successfully transformed into a T20 specialist. With 90 wickets in 87 T20I matches for India, he maintains an impressive average of 23.10 and a remarkable economy of 6.96 on the international stage, qualities that would make any team covet his services.
In the broader context of T20s, Bhuvneshwar has accumulated 288 wickets at an average of 24 and an economy of 7.18. These statistics collectively portray an experienced bowler who has nearly mastered his craft.
3. Bhuvneswar Kumar shines in domestic cricket
Since his last appearances for India in ODIs and T20Is in 2022, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been actively engaged in domestic cricket. His performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy has been exceptional while representing Uttar Pradesh.
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Consistently contributing to wicket-taking, he averages two wickets per game. Bhuvneshwar’s compelling form in domestic cricket strongly advocates for his inclusion in the India squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Notable performances, such as his 5/16 against Karnataka and 4/20 against Rajasthan, serve as a resounding message, affirming, “I am still here. Don’t forget me.”
