Even though India crashed out in the final of the Champions Trophy, there were plenty of positives to take out from the tournament. One of them is surely the form of Bhuvneshwar Kumar who seems to have found that extra vigour and verve in his bowling. Here are five reasons he is the most improved bowler:
Death King:
Bhuvneshwar at one point was one of the most effective strike bowlers and not someone you would depend on at the end. However, that notion has changed considerably over the last two years. The seamer has learned the art of deception in the final overs and mixes it up really well.
Batsmen are not able to hit Bhuvi anymore and this is primarily due to his ability to hit the slot at the right time. Even against Pakistan, he was able to restrict them from hitting runs thanks to his disciplined bowling and if it weren’t for him, India would have had to chase a much bigger score for sure.
Perfected the Yorker:
If there’s one ball that every best bowler has had, it is the Yorker right at the death. Wasim Akram, Lasith Malinga, Dale Steyn were all able to pick the ball and bowl the Yorker when it mattered the most and now Bhuvneshwar seems to have found that extra edge.
He has perfected his talent in the IPL, thanks to being exposed to bowlers such as Trent Boult and Dale Steyn in the SRH team. Bhuvi is now one of the best bowlers to have at the death and he has proved this time and again.
Increase in pace:
Bhuvneshwar’s average pace over the past couple of years seems to have drastically increased. He used to be a medium slow bowler but is now a genuine speedster who can hit the 140 mark. He has really worked on his action and has increased the pace of his bowling.
Bhuvi is also someone who can hit high speeds at any stage of the match and this makes him a very dangerous customer to deal with.
Raised his level to the big boys:
When Bhuvneshwar Kumar first stepped onto the cricket field, he was brimming with raw potential but was culpable to be overawed by the big occasion. Earlier, pressure would get to him and he would find himself being in and out of the squad. However, that has all changed over the past two to three years.
The IPL has given him a much needed boost and he is now able to proudly rub his shoulders with the world’s best. He has come a long way since his debut and is showing everybody what he can do.
Maintained a terrific temperament:
Throughout his career, Bhuvi was always known to be one player who would not let his emotions get the better of him. That has carried on and now he slowly finds himself as one of the seniors in the squad. With time, he has learned more about his strengths and weaknesses and has managed to work on them to get better.
