Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Image Credit: Twitter)

Former India batsman, VVS Laxman feels pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar should not play in all the 5 T20Is in the upcoming series against England.

Kumar is returning to international cricket after struck by a spate of injuries – he last played for India in December 2019. The Uttar Pradesh seamer has had a terrible bout with injuries; after playing just 4 matches he was ruled out from the IPL 2020, and then from the tour to Australia as well.

Bhuvneshwar is rearing to make his long-awaited comeback to the national side after proving his fitness in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy where he wasn’t amongst wickets, but fared brilliantly with his economy, especially in the death overs.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Twitter)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Twitter)

VVS Laxman points out that there is a lot of depth in the bowling department but Bhuvneshwar will slot into the eleven straight away. He believes that after Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar is India’s best and most experienced bowler, especially in the death overs.

“There is a lot of depth in the Indian pace department. We saw even in Test match cricket, especially on the tour to Australia. I still feel great and happy that Bhuvneshwar Kumar has regained fitness,” VVS Laxman said while speaking with Star Sports.

“He is such an important bowler, especially in white-ball for Team India because apart from Jasprit Bumrah if anyone is there in that Indian bowling line-up who has got the experience of bowling not only with the new ball but also at the death,” he added.

I hope that he doesn’t play all five matches: VVS Laxman

vvs laxman
VVS Laxman. (Photo: Twitter)

However, the 46-year-old reckons the management shouldn’t play Bhuvneshwar in all the games – a maximum of 3 out of 5 – as there is always a concern with his fitness. Laxman says that since the Sunrisers Hyderabad bowler is a key pacer for India leading up to the World Cup, his workload should be managed carefully – especially keeping in mind the IPL 2021 and a Test series in England.

Read More  Kolkata Police call Hardik Pandya a scammer amid Mumbai Indians captaincy saga

While Bumrah is rested from the T20I series, India has plenty of potency in their bowling attack – apart from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Virat Kohli will have the likes of T Natarajan, Deepak Chahar, Navdeep Saini, and Shardul Thakur at his disposal.

“For him to be hundred percent fit will be of a lot of priority and prominence has to be given to manage the workload and the injury of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and I hope that he doesn’t play all the five matches.

“He can be rested in between, probably three out of the five matches is what I see or expect Bhuvneshwar Kumar to play but he is such an important member. We have to look after Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the fast bowler, because he will be playing a very important role come November when the World Cup will happen,” Laxman further added.

Also Read: IPL 2021 Form Of Australian Cricketers Basis Of Selection For T20 World Cup: Justin Langer