Bhuvneshwar, India's trump card in SA?

[rkt.india]

It was just before the start of IPL season 5 that my friend Deep Dasgupta asked me to keep an eye on Bhuvneshwar Kumar. "He can swing the ball both ways and has a great attitude", Deep had said. I have known Deep to be rational and pragmatic and hence thought it prudent to check out Kumar in a few of the games. However, I must confess I was disappointed when I had first seen him. Bhuvi looked the exact opposite of what a fast bowler should be like. He wasn't the tallest, wasn't the best built, wasn't the fastest and wasn't the most aggressive. How can this man play for India I had asked myself? He did in no time and is gradually turning out to be India's leading new ball bowler. Bhuvi is surely in the scheme of things for the end of the year tour to South Africa. If he can generate prodigious swing in Indian conditions, one expects him to be a handful in favourable South African conditions just as he was in England during the Champions trophy. To borrow from Deep once more, the best thing about Bhuvi is his attitude. He doesn't mind the challenge of opening the bowling for India in unfavorable conditions and isn't overly aggressive on the field like Ashok Dinda. Bhuvi, I wish to suggest, looks a very early version of James Anderson and can well become a real threat if he adds a couple of yards to his pace. Importantly he clocked mid 130s in many of the Champions Trophy matches and this is a distinct improvement on the 120s he bowled against Pakistan a few months earlier. Swing at decent pace is a fast disappearing art and Kumar can be the long term replacement for Zaheer Khan if he can keep himself injury free. I have not discussed cricket with Bhuvi and don't know him well. And not knowing him well helped me a few months earlier in Chennai at the conclusion of the India-Australia test match. The Australian skipper Michael Clarke and I were having coffee at the lobby of the Taj Coromandel as Bhuvi came looking for a few friends. He had not seen Michael who had his back to the elevator and did not know me well enough to say hello. He was in fact looking for a group of friends who had come to congratulate him. There were a couple of women and two young boys if I remember correct. Surprisingly, Bhuvi apologized for the ten minute delay to start with. He was polite and dignified and asked if could get them some coffee. An apology and an offer for coffee aren't the usual things a cricketer does. The next part was even more interesting. After a few photographs were clicked Bhuvi asked the young boy for his android phone, in fact a Samsung Galaxy Note II, to check if the photos had turned out well. The pictures had come hazy and the young kid looked distraught. He had imagined Bhuvi to leave having already spent 15 minutes and was upset with himself. Bhuvi in fact tutored him on how to use the phone, showed him the hand position as is if he was demonstrating the art of swing bowling and stood there as the boy mastered the art. A few more photos were taken before he left for his room. Two things stood out from this exchange. He hasn't yet developed the starry attributes that some of our cricketers have. These attributes endear them to no one and border on the rude on occasions. Second, he continues to retain his simplicity and humility despite having played for India. These qualities are rare in a cricketer and make me hopeful that Bhuvnesh Kumar is different. He may not have the typical fast bowler's physique but he isn't the typical cricketer either. Blessed with the talent of swinging the ball both ways, Bhuvi just needs to remain the way he is to be able to serve India well for the next few years. In South Africa he will have the best conditions to demonstrate his skill. If Vernon Philander can, so can Bhuvi. In fact, with a fit Bhuvi, Umesh, Ishant and a leaner and hungrier Zaheer India will not have a bad bowling attack in South Africa not to forget Ravi Ashwin. Against the likes of Hashim Amla he will sure be tested but what is Test cricket without the real challenge of bowling to the best?

http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/57958/bhuvneshwar-indias-trump-card-in-sa?/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=news&utm_campaign=gadget

[jalebi_bhai]

"The next part was even more interesting. After a few photographs were clicked Bhuvi asked the young boy for his android phone, in fact a Samsung Galaxy Note II, to check if the photos had turned out well. The pictures had come hazy and the young kid looked distraught. He had imagined Bhuvi to leave having already spent 15 minutes and was upset with himself. Bhuvi in fact tutored him on how to use the phone, showed him the hand position as is if he was demonstrating the art of swing bowling and stood there as the boy mastered the art. A few more photos were taken before he left for his room." :hatsoff:.....

[Lord]

I have more hopes from Yadav

[namasteji1]

:hatsoff: @that photo incident.

[FischerTal]

he will be our best bowler.....

[rkt.india]

I have more hopes from Yadav

Yadav is too inconsistent. Consistent bowlers are always more successful.

[India-KXIP fan]

Bhuvneshwar Kumar Singh, not even a certainty in the side but being hyped and even compared to the spearhead who has 50+ tests experience. :haha: Im hoping he gets thrashed by the Aussies in the ODI's and misses test squad. Don't talk about SA, he hasn't cemented his spot unlike Ishant, the Aus ODI's will see him dropped :om: Bring back Praveen as the swing bowler :protest:

[Lord]

Yadav is too inconsistent. Consistent bowlers are always more successful.

but Bhuvi is mainly inswing bowler.Yadav OTOH is an outswing bowler who I think have better chance of succeeding in Test cricket.also hes faster too ofcourse.

[India-KXIP fan]

Why is Praveen Kumar forgotten about these days? Did they drop him cause of ODI's? Cause he was the best bowler against England in tests. Bring him back :protest:

[G_B_]

Why is Praveen Kumar forgotten about these days? Did they drop him cause of ODI's? Cause he was the best bowler against England in tests. Bring him back :protest:

:hysterical: next you will be telling me Mandeep Singh is a good batsman :hysterical:

[FischerTal]

Bhuvneshwar Kumar Singh, not even a certainty in the side but being hyped and even compared to the spearhead who has 50+ tests experience. :haha: Im hoping he gets thrashed by the Aussies in the ODI's and misses test squad. Don't talk about SA, he hasn't cemented his spot unlike Ishant, the Aus ODI's will see him dropped :om: Bring back Praveen as the swing bowler :protest:

bhuvi cemented his spot by actually picking up wickets, not like pisshant who needs to pinch senior player's butt to stay in the reckoning. i agree, praveen should come back for pisshant :agree:

[saneindian]

:hysterical: next you will be telling me Mandeep Singh is a good batsman :hysterical:

He was doing that last year and jinxed him so badly that Mandeep has hardly scored a run in any format!

[India-KXIP fan]

bhuvi cemented his spot by actually picking up wickets, not like pisshant who needs to pinch senior player's butt to stay in the reckoning. i agree, praveen should come back for pisshant :agree:

Bhuvi hasn't done anything in tests. In ODI's Ishant has picked up more wickets since he's played. But anyway Praveen's test record for an Indian quick at least warrants him another look in. 6 matches 27 wickets, he did very well, I remember he bowled well.

[FischerTal]

Bhuvi hasn't done anything in tests. In ODI's Ishant has picked up more wickets since he's played. But anyway Praveen's test record for an Indian quick at least warrants him another look in. 6 matches 27 wickets, he did very well, I remember he bowled well.

yeah getting tailenders wickets... pisshant is god..... Praveen played in England, bhuvi played in india..... :two_thumbs_up: if praveen started his test career in india, he would retire from test cricket :dontmentionit:

[rkt.india]

but Bhuvi is mainly inswing bowler.Yadav OTOH is an outswing bowler who I think have better chance of succeeding in Test cricket.also hes faster too ofcourse.

BK does not have big outswing like Steyn or Anderson but mixed with his inswing, it can certainly play a role. Consistency is what is most important on helpful tracks rather than sheer pace. Pace has its importance but only if it is consistent. An inconsistent quick bowler who can bowl outswingers can certainly bring wickets but he will leak runs too and on those pitches, every run is important.

[Lord]

BK does not have big outswing like Steyn or Anderson but mixed with his inswing' date=' it can certainly play a role. Consistency is what is most important on helpful tracks rather than sheer pace. Pace has its importance but only if it is consistent. An inconsistent quick bowler who can bowl outswingers can certainly bring wickets but he will leak runs too and on those pitches, every run is important.[/quote'] I don't think Yadav is that inconsistent in Test cricket.hes poorer in ODIs where flat pitches means he goes for runs. We need someone to strike and run through the batting lineup,specially with the new ball,not just be economical.Even if Yadav is expensive,he'd have better chance of taking wickets imo in these conditions

[rkt.india]

I don't think Yadav is that inconsistent in Test cricket.hes poorer in ODIs where flat pitches means he goes for runs. We need someone to strike and run through the batting lineup,specially with the new ball,not just be economical.Even if Yadav is expensive,he'd have better chance of taking wickets imo in these conditions

It is not just about being economical, a consistent bowler will hit right areas more often than others so then we will have more chances for batsmen to make mistakes. Consistent does not mean he wont take wickets. Consistency brings wickets especially on helpful tracks where you dont need to do too many things.

[CSK Fan]

I don't think Yadav is that inconsistent in Test cricket.hes poorer in ODIs where flat pitches means he goes for runs. We need someone to strike and run through the batting lineup,specially with the new ball,not just be economical.Even if Yadav is expensive,he'd have better chance of taking wickets imo in these conditions

Well BK is both economical and runs through line ups so don't know what you are complaining about

[jalebi_bhai]

Why is Praveen Kumar forgotten about these days? Did they drop him cause of ODI's? Cause he was the best bowler against England in tests. Bring him back :protest:

disciplinary concerns......was on the verge of getting kicked out of domestic cricket......

[Sidhoni]

but Bhuvi is mainly inswing bowler.Yadav OTOH is an outswing bowler who I think have better chance of succeeding in Test cricket.also hes faster too ofcourse.

Not really. He sets up the batsmen nicely mixing up both outswingers and inswingers. He might end up picking more wickets with his inswing though as that catches the batsman by surprise.