Bhuvneshwar Kumar: The Swing King Who Revived Team India's Hopes

India’s tour of England has been a roller-coaster ride so far, with the hosts dominating the first two Tests and the visitors bouncing back in the third. One of the key factors behind India’s resurgence has been the return of their ace swing bowler, Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who missed the first two Tests due to a hamstring injury, made a stunning comeback in the third Test at Leeds, where he claimed eight wickets in the match, including a five-wicket haul in the first innings. He bowled with impeccable control and accuracy, making the ball move both ways in the air and off the pitch. He troubled the English batsmen with his subtle variations and clever changes of pace. He also contributed with the bat, scoring 36 runs in the second innings and adding a crucial 89-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s performance at Leeds was a reminder of his immense talent and skill, which have earned him a reputation as one of the best swing bowlers in the world. He made his international debut in 2012, and soon became a regular member of the Indian team across formats. He has taken over 200 wickets in international cricket, and has also scored three half-centuries in Tests. He is the first Indian bowler to take a five-wicket haul in all three formats of the game. He is also the only bowler whose first wicket in each format was bowled.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been a vital cog in India’s bowling unit, especially in overseas conditions, where he has exploited the swing and seam movement to his advantage. He has taken 63 wickets in 21 Tests, with an average of 26.09 and a strike rate of 53.1. He has four five-wicket hauls in Tests, three of them in England. He was the leading wicket-taker for India in the 2014 tour of England, where he took 19 wickets in five Tests, including a career-best 6 for 82 at Lord’s. He also scored 247 runs in that series, with three fifties, and was named the player of the series.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s career, however, has been hampered by injuries, which have kept him out of action for long periods. He has missed several important series and tournaments, including the 2015 World Cup, the 2018 tour of England, and the 2019 World Cup. He has also struggled to regain his rhythm and form after recovering from injuries, and has often been overshadowed by other pacers in the team, such as Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Ishant Sharma.

But Bhuvneshwar Kumar has shown that he is not ready to give up his place in the team without a fight. He has worked hard on his fitness and bowling, and has proved his worth whenever he has got an opportunity. He was the highest wicket-taker for India in the 2022 Asia Cup, where he took 11 wickets in five matches. He was also the leading wicket-taker in the 2022 IPL, where he took 28 wickets in 14 matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad, and won the Purple Cap for the second time.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s performance in the third Test has given a new lease of life to Team India, who are now level with England at 1-1 in the five-match series. He has also given a headache to the team management, who will have to decide whether to stick with him or bring back Bumrah, who was rested for the Leeds Test. Whatever the decision, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has shown that he is a match-winner, and a valuable asset for Team India.