Out of form Bhuvneshwar Kumar a major worry for Team India

22.09.2022 - 05:49 timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar's lacklustre performances in the end overs are disrupting India's plans for the T20 World CupOn August 28, when Bhuvneshwar Kumar took 4-26 to play a key role in India's thrilling five-wicket win over arch-rivals Pakistan in the Asia Cup at Dubai, few thought that, with just a month left before their 2022 T20 World Cup opener against the same opponents, India's sole 'T20 specialist' bowler would become a source of one of India's biggest worries.

In three out of India's last four matches, Bhuvneshwar has been taken to the cleaners in the penultimate over. Everything that he has tried-yorker, wide yorker, slower ball, knuckle ball or a bouncer, has failed, as he has ended up becoming cannon fodder for batsmen waiting to pounce on his friendly medium pace.

OUT OF FORM: India skipper Rohit Sharma (left) won't be pleased with Bhuvneshwar Kumar's recent efforts.In the Super 4 game of the Asia Cup, Pakistan needed 26 off 2 overs, when the 32-year-old conceded 19 in the 19th over, eventually finishing with 0-40 in 4 overs.

In India's next Super 4 game of the Asia Cup, Sri Lanka needed 21 of 2 overs, when Bhuveshwar went for 14 in the 19th over. This time, the experienced campaigner went for 0-30 in 4 overs.

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The world is eagerly waiting for the T20 World Cup clash between India and Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on October 23. The anticipation for this match has been so intense that the game got sold out a month prior in advance of the tournament starting. Off late, Pakistan have give some memorable performances against India and they even broke the World Cup jinx against India by defeating them in the T20 World Cup last year in the UAE.

"Better Skilled Bowler At Present Than Bhuvneshwar Kumar": Ex-India Star On Deepak Chahar

It has been a decade but Bhuvneshwar Kumar's debut in what was the last bilateral series between India and Pakistan, seems like yesterday. The very second delivery of his international career swung away and after pitching viciously tailed in to disturb opener Nasir Jamshed's timber. Bhuvneshwar has not bowled such a delivery in the last two years. Now that he is expected to lead the Indian attack at the T20 World Cup, his own performance at the death overs is under the scanner.

Team India's T20 World Cup-Bound Squad Departs For Australia. See Pic

Rohit Sharma-led Team India departed for Australia for the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup in the early hours of Thursday morning. The 2007 champions will look to win the crown this year after failing to make the semi-finals last year. Before the World Cup, Team India managed to gain some momentum after defeating Australia and South Africa in the respective bilateral series and one now hopes that India are able to go all the way in the tournament.

Five Major Concerns For Team India Heading Into The T20 World Cup

Rohit Sharma-led Team India might have won the T20I series against Australia and South Africa on home soil, however, there are some big concerns as the team gears up to take part in the T20 World Cup in Australia. If the side wants to win the marquee event, all three departments of the game need to work in unison, which has not happened for Rohit Sharma and co off late. Death bowling has emerged as one of the biggest concerns for the side, and with Jasprit Bumrah being ruled out of the tournament, one does not know how the side can fix the problem that is quickly turning out to be their achilles' heel.

India vs South Africa 2nd T20I: Suryakumar Yadav's fireworks light up Team India victory

Miller ton in vain as India claim 1st T20I home series against South Africa with 16-run winOn the eve of the match, social media was rife with people requesting all to pray to Goddess Durga for a rain free Sunday. There was clear weather but no one could have ever imagined that there would be a floodlights malfunction, or a snake sneaking into the ground! AS IT HAPPENEDEventually those two incidents proved to be only the pitstops as India cantered to a 16-run win to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. This was also India's first T20 International series victory against South Africa at home. There was no stopping the Indian batters on a placid Barsapara Cricket Stadium. South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma had asked his India counterpart Rohit Sharma to bat first after winning the toss but some toothless bowling and the smaller boundaries didn't help the Proteas' cause as India reached a daunting 237/3, with 178 being scored in boundaries (25 fours, 13 sixes).

India vs South Africa 2nd T20I: Uncertainties galore for Team India

Bumrah's injury has added to the confusion over team combination as hosts gear up for 2nd T2OI vs SAGUWAHATI: With the match scheduled in the middle of Durga Puja, the traffic in the city here, and around Barsapara Cricket Stadium in particular, on the eve of the second T20 International match between India and South Africa, was clogged. The situation quite resembled the state of India's team combination right now. With the upcoming T20 World Cup barely two weeks away, the ongoing series against visiting South Africa is a preparation for the big-ticket event, irrespective of the outcome of the bilateral series. However, as India were hoping to get the team combination right ahead of the ICC meet, Jasprit Bumrah's injury added to growing uncertainties.