Zaheer Khan and Michael Vaughan have questioned the Indian team management’s decision to drop fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar from the third T20 International against England. Bhuvneshwar took three wickets for just 15 runs in the second match to help his team win by 49 runs. In the first match, the 32-year-old pacer had bagged a wicket as Rohit Sharma’s team registered an emphatic 50-run victory.
Former India pacer Zaheer Khan feels Bhuvneshwar should have been in the team after bowling brilliantly in the first two matches. Zaheer said that the fast bowler is not playing for the team India Constantly and that’s why he needs to get more playing time.
Read also | Why are they called experts?’ – Rohit Sharma hits back at Virat Kohli critics say
“You have to use the forces that put you in the first place here. Everyone notices him (Umran Malik) because he was working hard and bowling fast. Look at these three stumps, as many as you can Run as hard, bowl as hard as you can. I still felt Bhuvneshwar could have continued Kumar as he was in good rhythm. He is not playing consistently so the game time could have been longer for him, Zaheer told Cricbuzz.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan also expressed a similar opinion. Vaughan was “shocked” to see so many changes in the Indian team. He felt that the England openers were relieved to see Bhuvneshwar Kumar not in the Indian bowling line-up.
“Jason Roy and Jos Buttler can breathe easy when they come out to bat as they don’t need to face Bhuvneshwar Kumar. I’m surprised they went through with so many changes. From a player’s point of view you want to play, you want to be in form. Bhuvi is in form, Hardik is in form,” said Vaughan.
Bhuvneshwar, Jasprit Bumrah and Yuzvendra Chahal were not present in the squad for the final match of the series. Young bowlers like Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi and Umran Malik got a chance to showcase their talent.
However, the decision backfired as the Indian bowling unit looked dire in front of the England batsmen. David Malan struck a quick 77 off just 39 balls as England posted a mammoth total of 215/7 in 20 overs. Bishnoi and Harshal Patel took two wickets each.
Suryakumar Yadav scored a memorable century but his innings proved to be in vain as India could only reach a total of 198/9 in 20 overs.
Get all the latest updates cricket news, cricket pictures, cricket videos And cricket score Here