3 memorable spells of Bhuvneshwar Kumar in international cricket

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been one of India’s most reliable pace bowlers across all three formats. His ability to swing the ball both ways and vary his pace has produced several standout performances at the international level.

Over the years, he has taken five-wicket hauls in Tests, ODIs and T20Is, making him one of the few Indian bowlers to achieve that across formats.

Here are three of his most memorable spells in international cricket:

1. 5/4 vs Afghanistan, T20I, Asia Cup 2022, Dubai

Bhuvneshwar Kumar produced one of the finest T20I bowling spells ever seen when he returned figures of 4-1-4-5 against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup 2022 at Dubai. India had batted first and posted 212 for 2, with Virat Kohli scoring an unbeaten 122 off 61 balls. Bhuvneshwar’s five-wicket burst reduced Afghanistan to 21 for 6. Four of his five wickets came inside the Powerplay.

He dismissed Hazratullah Zazai lbw with an inswinger, bowled Rahmanullah Gurbaz through the gate with an outswinger, had Karim Janat edged to slip, trapped Najibullah Zadran lbw with an inswinger and took Azmatullah Omarzai’s wicket with a slower ball chipped to short cover. Afghanistan were eventually bowled out for 111 for 8, and India recorded their second-biggest win in T20 internationals. This was Bhuvneshwar’s second T20I five-wicket haul, making him the first Indian to take more than one five-for in T20Is. His previous haul was 5/24 against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2018.

2. 5/42 vs Sri Lanka, ODI, Colombo, September 3, 2017

Bhuvneshwar Kumar claimed his maiden ODI five-wicket haul against Sri Lanka in Colombo on September 3, 2017, finishing with figures of 5/42. Sri Lanka were placed at 181 for 3 with two set batters having already reached their fifties when Bhuvneshwar came back into the attack.

Going around the wicket, he cramped Lahiru Thirimanne and forced him to play the ball onto his own stumps while attempting to guide it to third man. The Sri Lankan lower order then collapsed quickly. Wanindu Hasaranga was run out and Lasith Malinga holed out to Bhuvneshwar, with Sri Lanka folding two balls short of 50 overs.

3. 6/82 vs England, 2nd Test, Lord’s, 2014

Bhuvneshwar Kumar delivered one of the finest Test bowling performances by an Indian pacer when he took 6/82 against England in the 2nd Test at Lord’s in 2014. He bowled 31 overs including 10 maidens in England’s first innings, conceding runs at an economy rate of 2.65 per over.

His six victims were Alastair Cook, Sam Robson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Ben Stokes and Stuart Broad. Among them was centurion Gary Ballance, who had scored 110. England were bowled out for 319 in their first innings. India set a target of 319 and bowled England out for 223 in the second innings to win the match by 95 runs. Bhuvneshwar also contributed with the bat, scoring 52 in India’s second innings.