Gautam Gambhir thinks that Bhuvneshwar Kumar does not need to bowl fast to worry batters from other countries as long as he can swing the ball.
In India’s first match of the Asia Cup 2022, which took place on Sunday in Dubai, Bhuvneshwar’s bowling performance helped the team restrict Pakistan to 147 runs (August 28). After that, the Men in Blue successfully chased down the goal of 148 runs with five wickets remaining and two deliveries remaining.
During the course of a conversation on Star Sports, Gambhir was questioned about his opinion on the present level of the swing bowler’s ability. In response, he said:
“How good is Bhuvi right now, considering that Bhuvi has begun to swing the ball? It was complete and utter nonsense for anybody to suggest that Bhuvneshwar Kumar must bowl at a speed of 135–140 kilometers per hour to be successful in international cricket.”
Bhuvneshwar Kumar said, "Hardik Pandya will be India's most important player in the T20 World Cup. I wish he continues his form in the World Cup, it'll be crucial for us".
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 29, 2022
Gambhir observed that, in international cricket, the swing is a more dangerous weapon than speed. The former India opener explained as follows:
“His only objective while bowling is to swing the ball. Up until the point that he starts swinging the new ball, he will be incredibly effective. He was consistently effective as a bowler in the death overs. Absolutely no batter anywhere in the world enjoys swing, and this is particularly true in the Twenty20 format. They are unconcerned with the pace.”
Gautam Gambhir heaps praise on Bhuvneshwar Kumar
By getting rid of Babar Azam early on in Sunday’s match, Bhuvneshwar provided India with a significant advantage. During his second spell, he was successful in derailing Pakistan’s batting innings by removing Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, and Naseem Shah.
Gambhir identified the seamer’s ability to bowl an impeccable line and length as the seamer’s greatest strength. He went on to explain:
“Because of his swing, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has consistently been one of the most dangerous bowlers in the game. The most notable quality of Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s bowling is that, regardless of whether it is the first ball of the match or any other ball, he consistently bowls at a length that puts the batsmen to the test.”
Bhuvneshwar Kumar becomes the leading wicket taker for India in T20I in 2022 – 20 wickets.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 29, 2022
Gambhir praised the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) bowler for understanding his limits and bowling in a way that was appropriate for those constraints, even though Gambhir believed the SRH bowler may not be as good as Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah. The former cricket player who is now a pundit said:
“He is aware of his own constraints. It’s possible that he doesn’t have as much natural skill as Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, but Bhuvneshwar’s forte is in recognizing his own limits and working within those confines, as well as coming up with innovative strategies to overcome those limitations.”
During the press conference that took place after the match, Bhuvneshwar said that he soon noticed that the conditions on Sunday were not conducive to swing. The Pakistani captain was sent out by a short ball because the bowler, who is 32 years old, decided to take advantage of the bounce provided by the pitch.
