Asia Cup: Bhuvneshwar Looks To Surpass Teammate To Reach Big T20I Landmark For India

31.08.2022 - 15:55 sports.ndtv.com

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is just three wickets away from becoming India's leading wicket-taker in T20Is. As India take on Hong Kong in an Asia Cup Group A match later on Wednesday, Bhuvneshwar could overtake teammate Yuzvendra Chahal to become the highest wicket-taker in the shortest format of the game.

So far, Bhuvneshwar has 77 wickets in 74 matches, while Chahal has 79 in 63 T20I outings. The 32-year-old returned figures of four for 26 in India's opening game of the Asia Cup against Pakistan.

Chahal, on the other hand, went wicket less and also conceded 32 runs from his quota of four overs. In the match against Pakistan, Hardik Pandya produced a special all-round effort as India held nerves to pull off an exciting five-wicket win.

Hardik (3/25 in 4 overs) showed his high value under extreme pressure as his well-directed short balls helped India bowl out Pakistan for 147.

cricket 2022 Landmark cup Yuzvendra Chahal India Hong Kong Pakistan Hong Kong

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has offered a fresh contract to head coach Igor Stimac with a rider -- guide the men's team to Asian Cup quarter-final or face the axe. The former Croatian World Cupper is currently in Kolkata, where the national team is camping for its Vietnam trip and the AIFF bigwigs are expected to discuss the modalities of the contract with him once the trip is over. The decision was taken here during the second Executive Committee (EC) meeting of the AIFF's new dispensation headed by Kalyan Chaubey and secretary general Shaji Prabhakaran.

Watch: Yuzvendra Chahal Posts Romantic Video With Wife Dhanashree Verma

After a gruelling Asia Cup campaign, where the Indian cricket team failed to qualify for the final, leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal is currently enjoying a brief break from cricket. He took four wickets in four matches. He had an economy of 7.93. But bigger battles await him as Team India gears up for the T20 World Cup in Australia next month. Before the marquee event, the Indian team will play bilateral series against Australia from September 20. Ahead of that Chahal has posted a romantic video with wife Dhanashree Verma along with the caption: "My strongest woman is my strength."

Arshdeep told me he was not bothered about the trolls; Bhuvneshwar should have bowled the 20th over vs Pak & SL in Asia Cup, says coach Jaswant Rai

Pakistan. It was a match that India went on to lose. If India had won that game chances are Arshdeep would not have had to face the ugly hate that he eventually did. What was heartening to see was the immense support that Arshdeep received from the cricketing fraternity overall. The selectors and team management have also continued to back him and he has been picked in the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup as well. TimesofIndia.com spoke to Arshdeep's childhood coach who said that Arshdeep was at no point bothered about or affected by the trolling on social media. "Arshdeep is a brave guy and doesn't care about being trolled. He dropped a catch but still grabbed the opportunity with both hands when his captain asked him to bowl the last over," Jaswant Rai, Arshdeep's childhood coach told TimesofIndia.com. Arshdeep in fact was given the 20th over to bowl in both the Super 4 matches that India lost (vs Pakistan and vs Sri Lanka). In both matches Arshdeep was asked to defend 7 runs.

Arshdeep told me he was not bothered about the trolls; Bhuvneshwar should have bowled the 20th over vs Pak & SL in Asia Cup, says coach Balwant Rai

"Don't Think He'll Be Good Option For India:" Ex-Pakistan Captain On Bhuvneshwar Kumar's Prospects in T20 World Cup

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt feels veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar won't be a good option for Team India in the T20 World Cup. Bhuvneshwar picked 11 wickets in the ongoing Asia Cup, but leaked a lot of runs in the death overs. He bagged a five-for in India's final game of the Super 4 stage against Afghanistan on Thursday. While suggesting that Bhuvneshwar is an excellent new-ball bowler, Butt feels that the Bhuvneshwar lacks pace, which makes it easier for the batters to target him in the death.

India face heat for 'chopping and changing' after Asia Cup failure

Rohit Sharma's India have been slammed for "chopping and changing" as they failed to make the final of the Asia Cup Twenty20 tournament with a game to go. Pakistan's win over Afghanistan on Wednesday knocked out India from the tournament, which was a warm-up for next month's T20 World Cup. India, who won the previous Asia Cup in 2018 played in a 50-over format, came in as pre-tournament favourites but lost their first two Super Four matches to Pakistan and Sri Lanka.