By Gaurang
July 21 2014

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is on track to join Kapil Dev as the only other Indian all-rounder to score 250 runs and take 20 wickets in a 5 Test series. 

The legendary Kapil Dev acheived this milestone twice in his career first scoring 278 runs and taking 32 wickets against Pakistan in 1978-79 and then again scoring 318 runs and taking 22 wickets versus England in 1981-82.  Both these series were 6 Test series.  Bhuvneshwar kumar has already scored 209 runs and taken 11 wickets in less than two Tests at a batting average of 70 and a bowling average of 16.  He needs 41 more runs and 9 more wickets in rest of the series including England's second innings and the remaing 3 Test matches to reach that impressive milestone.   If India go on to win the second Test at Lords, his contribution will have been amongst the most vital, but even if the match is drawn or England somehow manage to win the match, he can hold his head high for his personal contributions to the match. 

Bhuvneshwar Kumar does not have the build or physical stature of Kapil Dev, but his uncomplicated bowling action and his orthodox batting with a strong mix of defense and attack all played with a Lara-esque high backlift bring Dev like value to his team.  One area where Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Kapil Dev are very similar is in their never say die attitudes and stomach for the fight when things get tough.  There is always a danger in comparing a newbie to a legend of the game, but one feels in the case of this lad from Uttar Pradesh that he unlikely to be phased by such comparisons and will just go on doing his best to emulate the one and only Haryana Hurricane. 

Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the past has ruefully lamented the lack of a genuine pace bowling all rounder in his side.  If the young lad from Merut keeps handling the willow with the consistency he has shown recently, he may be the answer to his captain's wishful thinking. In any case a promotion up the order to number eight or even seven from his current number nine in the batting order seems a logical move.  Such a move would open up a slot for another genuine bowler either a spinner such as Ravi Ashwin or a pace bowler like Varun Aaron or Umesh Yadav to strengthen the bowling to 5 genuine wicket taking bowling options.

Bhuvneshwar "Dev"

Discussion started by Indian Cricket Fever (IP Logged), 21/07/2014 06:25

Indian Cricket Fever
21/07/2014 06:25

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:08:17:16:33:58 by Birbal.

Reply Quote Report

shilpa
23/07/2014 19:53

do not jinx him. He is a bowler who can bat a bit sometimesm

Reply Quote Report

Birbal
23/07/2014 21:25

Naah he is a seam bowling all-rounder...

Reply Quote Report

Birbal
25/07/2014 16:43

Cricinfo follows this article with one about how Bhuvi could become 300 run and 20 wicket taker... also looks at 250 runs and 15 wicket taker... studiously avoids 250 runs and 20 wickets...

guilty minds?

Reply Quote Report

Indian Well Wisher
27/07/2014 20:32

^ bhuvi the bowler is tired, he needs a rest in next test..same with Shami...

Bhuvi wont take much wickets in this test..but can score runs on this patta to boost his runs tally..

Reply Quote Report

shilpa
27/07/2014 21:23

yes Bhuv is tired and Shami is lacking rythm...he tries too many variations in line, length and speed in one over which works on ODIs and in India where there is no assistance.

here he has to bowl 5 balls in an over on one spot and maybe one variation delivery

Reply Quote Report

ananthd
03/08/2014 21:15

4 seamers are essential in England, playing 3 of these guys and Jadeja as a bowler is telling England, "WE SCARED of your BOWLING"...

24 needed with a bunny coming in at 11? No problem!

Reply Quote Report

Birbal
07/08/2014 15:39

Bhuvi now is thinking he is a batsman....and playing too defensively... and gets two ducks in a row...

Reply Quote Report

Birbal
09/08/2014 23:12

After a blazing start he has cooled down considerably.. .still doesn't have 250 runs...or 20 wickets...even though he needed only 41 runs and 9 wickets after the first two Tests...

Reply Quote Report

Indian Well Wisher
11/08/2014 05:42

Shows the type of stamina you need to last a long series as an allrounder..

He looks spent, but is still way better than other Indian bowlers like Shami, Pankaj, Spinners or even Ishant..

Reply Quote Report

Birbal
11/08/2014 22:38

Yeah Kapil was MAGNIFICENT I remember him playing 12 back to back Test matches in 1979-80 against Australia and Pakistan that too in the heat and on unhelpful Indian wickets...

Reply Quote Report

Birbal
11/08/2014 22:46

If you consider the Jubilee Test that followed actually 13 Tests back to back... and he NEVER missed a Test in his entire career from injury... Ishant was knackered after two back to back Tests...

Reply Quote Report

Birbal
17/08/2014 16:33

Ends up with 247 runs and 19 wickets... so couldn't score 41 runs and take 9 wickets in last 3 Tests... shows how AMAZING Kapil was a player...and how hard it is for anyone to fill his boots... btw, by the end of the series Bhuvi was trundling at mid 70 miles per hour...

Reply Quote Report

Birbal
29/01/2018 19:00

Bump...

In SA Bhuvi 100 odd runs at 34 and 10 wickets at 20...while Show Pony Pandya 100 odd runs at 19... and 3 wickets at 54...

Someone compared Pandya to Kapil... well he must first be good enough to compare to Bhuvi...never mind the LEGENDARY Kapil Dev....

Reply Quote Report

Goto: Forum List•Message List•Search• Log In

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net