Wanted: Old Bhuvneshwar with new ball

But With Zip Missing & Hardik Not Bowling, Nehra Reckons Shami Is A Better Bet To Start

- Arani.Basu

The last time Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah bowled in tandem was at the 2019 World Cup in England. They went into that tournament as one of the most envied new-ball opening pairs in world cricket.

They could be reunited on Sunday at a World Cup again, albeit in the T20 format. A lot has changed in these two years. Bumrah has pulled away from the rest of the Indian pacers to become one of the most lethal and consistent bowlers in world cricket. Bhuvneshwar is no more the undisputed leader of the white-ball attack.

Bhuvneshwar had to endure the struggles of going through injury rehab twice over the past two years. His hamstring has not been his best friend. It’s eaten into his game time and it showed in indifferent performances once he resumed top-level cricket in March this year.

It’s an intriguing time for Indian white-ball pace options. For all the riches demonstrated in Test cricket over the last 10 months, the team management has struggled to zero down on a combination in the shorter formats.