ENG vs IND: To Be Able To Swing The Ball Both Ways Takes Terrific Skills - Darren Gough On Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Former English pacer Darren Gough reckons that Bhuvneshwar Kumar has all the skills in the book and is perfect for English conditions but might not find a place in the playing XI for the T20 World Cup later this year.

The tournament will take place in Australia and Bhuvneshwar has comfortably been India’s best in the shortest format. He picks up wickets in the powerplay, as showcased in the 3-match T20I series against England.

“Getting into this Indian line-up will be difficult for him when you’ve got Shami – the amount of wickets he has got, you’ve got Bumrah and these youngsters who are coming through and have got terrific pace and are desperate for an opportunity, Siraj as well.”

“I think he (Bhuvneshwar) is mainly going to be used now as a one-day specialist but there is no doubt that in Australia, with the new ball, there will be skill required and there will be swing and I think, there he will be a massive player for India,” Gough told Cricket.com.

“There is no doubt that his skill levels are right up there” – Darren Gough

Bhuvneshwar has plenty of tricks up his sleeve and is also a good death bowler. With the likes of Harshal Patel and Bumrah in the team, he may not be expected to bowl in the end overs but he is a perfectly reliable option to have.

“There is no doubt that his skill levels are right up there. The control of the new ball is not easy and when you bowl with the new ball, it doesn’t do what you want it to do most of the time.”

“I have seen so many bowlers make that mistake. To be able to swing the ball from the off both ways takes terrific skills. And there is no doubt Bhuvneshwar has it. He is the perfect bowler for English-type conditions. To come and play County cricket, he would be special,” he added.

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