Former T20 World Cup winner S Sreesanth has extended his support for Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has had a tough time with the ball in recent times.
India completed a 2-1 T20I series win over Australia with a thrilling last-over victory in the decider in Hyderabad on Sunday, September 25. Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia, which is less than three weeks away, India have three more T20Is lined up – against South Africa at home – to fine-tune their form, tactics and combinations.
The death bowling continues to be a worry, as was the case at the Asia Cup 2022 earlier this month, with India crashing out of the competition after back-to-back defeats. Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s recent form has magnified the woes further, with the experienced seamer having failed in his execution in death overs consistently.
Former India quick S Sreesanth has backed Bhuvneshwar, who he feels will create an impact on the Australian surfaces at the marquee event, given his experience.
“He has done well against good batsmen. Even if you bowl good balls, there are 60-70% chances of being hit,”
Sreesanth said in a conversation with Hindustan Times.
“Sometimes, it works out and sometimes it doesn’t. We have to support Bhuvneshwar Kumar, just like (we have to support) Dinesh Karthik when it comes to batting. I’m very confident about his experience and ability to swing the ball; he has a back-of-the-length slower ball, he has got the knuckle ball. If he varies his pace on the hard bouncy wickets, he will get good help on Australian pitches.”
Bhuvneshwar returned figures of 0/52 from four overs in Mohali, and 1/39 from three overs in Hyderabad, having conceded 31 in two overs and 21 in one, while bowling at death in the respective outings.
The criticism has only got louder following the struggles, but Sreesanth urged Bhuvnehswar to keep backing his abilities.
“If Bhuvneshwar Kumar is listening to this – most often they don’t do it – but my only request is to never ever stop believing in your abilities. Sometimes, you really stop believing in your abilities. Sometimes, you get confused.
Sometimes, you read a lot, and watch a lot of videos. Sometimes, you listen to a lot of opinions on the commentary.
Even I have done that; everyone goes through that phase. But you got to believe in the immense ability that has got you here and made you the king. You have to believe in the higher power and trust your work ethics.”
Sreesanth was further in praise of Bhuvneshwar’s work ethics, with the latter currently being the joint-highest wicket-taker for India in T20Is, with 85 wickets at 22.55, while having maintained an excellent economy of 7.02.
“Bhuvneshwar’s work ethics are superb. When he was at the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he was at the gym, he was at the pool. He wanted to do more and more. It’s great to see that even now, he works hard. See, everyone is talking about the 19th over, but I’m telling you, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is going to do extremely well in Australia,”
he stated.
The first India vs South Africa T20I will be played at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on August 28. The second T20I will be played in Guwahati on October 2, followed by the third on October 4 in Indore.
The two teams will then play a three-match ODI series from October 6 to 11.
