Bhuvneshwar Kumar goes from Finished to Flying: IPL 2022

Nearly a year ago, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was criticized heavily for his lack of intensity. Facing Pakistan in the World Cup, taking the new ball, Kumar was too easy with his medium pace. He failed to find swing, couldn’t land the ball in the right places and his pace was in the 120s, making it easy for Pakistan to take him on. Following the game, there was a lot of question marks on his ability. He seemed done.

The last three years has seen Bhuvneshwar Kumar struggle a lot. Starting off as a swing bowler, he increased his pace and also learnt how to master the yorker to become a valuable asset from 2017. He is one of the best bowlers in the history of the IPL winning the purple cap as well, but his time seemed to have come.

For most pacers there is a certain spell or game that indicates their drop. Ishant Sharma had that in Headingly when his deliveries were not rising, he lacked pace and he looked unthreatening. Bhuvneshwar Kumar threatened to have such a moment as well in the World Cup. Things though have not been easy for him in the lead-up to the World Cup. He struggled with a lot of injuries after 2019, and had a very bad injury during the 2020 IPL season as well.

Despite the slump, Bhuvneshwar Kumar had some moments which showed that he can still be a valuable asset. For instance, on one of the flattest tracks against England, he only conceded fifteen in a four over spell in a game that yielded more than 400 runs. The skill was still their but the lack of rhythm caused a lack in intensity.

He struggled after that series, had a few niggles and has now come into the IPL again. Prior to the IPL there was not too much expectations on him in the auction. The lack of expectation is likely to be why SRH managed to get him back in the side easily. He is a valuable member in the SRH line-up and has a had a huge role in the history of the franchise.

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With SRH showing faith in him, Bhuvneshwar Kumar did well to repay them. In the first game against Rajasthan his intensity seemed back. In his very first spell Kumar got the ball to swing and also touched 140 on a couple of occasions. His pace was back, his swing was back, but a lot of no-balls haunted him as he failed to make use of his good bowling, leading to a loss for SRH.

After that game though, Bhuvneshwar Kumar looked a transformed bowler. As a bowler, Kumar never relied on pace or swing. He came in with a lot of skill and relied on his wrist position. His wrist position is what helped him swing the ball both ways, which is rather tough to do early in one’s career. His action and movement helped him gather swing that could bamboozle batters and his accuracy made him a superstar in T20 cricket. He developed a yorker as well which helped him pick wickets in the death.

Year after year, he has come up with some nice performances, strong deliveries and this season, after two bad season, one of the best pacers in IPL is back at his best. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been among the wickets, he is economical and looks exciting to watch now.

Coming into this season as a product which looked past its sell by date, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is in the middle of a wonderful turnaround. Along with the likes of Umesh Yadav and Kuldeep Yadav, Kumar has done enough to put himself in the spotlight. With a skillset better than any other, he is knocking on the doors of a World Cup squad, and at the moment it looks tough to imagine the squad without him.