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Over the last few years, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah have developed into a formidable pace partnership for the national team.
Statistically, the pair has been devastating, taking 99 wickets across 35 games with an average of 28.6 and a tight economy of 4.92. Yet, when you isolate Kumar's performance—41 wickets in those same 35 matches at an average of 35.95 and an economy of 5.23—it becomes clear that he is far more effective as a supporting act to Bumrah than as a standalone strike bowler.
His value has largely come from how perfectly he complements Bumrah's style, which is what kept him in the lineup. But that security is gone now that Mohammad Shami is pushing for a spot. Shami has returned to ODI cricket in sensational form, grabbing 19 wickets in 11 outings this year with a strong average of 26.42 and a controlled economy of 5.13. He also impressed in the Indian T20 League, where he took 19 wickets in 14 appearances.
This resurgence earned Shami a place in the World Cup squad, putting direct pressure on Bhuvneshwar's position in the starting XI. To be fair, Bhuvneshwar has put in the effort, taking 19 wickets at an average of 22.36 in his 10 ODIs this year—his best average since debuting. However, his struggles in the Indian T20 League have weakened his standing.
In the T20 league, he managed only 13 wickets in 15 games with a disappointing average of 35.46. While Shami has been a model of consistency across both formats this year, Bhuvneshwar's erratic form makes it hard to argue why he should be picked over Shami for the 2019 World Cup. Entering a major tournament requires momentum and confidence, something Bhuvneshwar unfortunately lacks right now.ICC World Cup 2019 campaign. Any player would want to carry good form forward into a grand tournament like this. It boosts their confidence. Unfortunately, Bhuvneshwar doesn’t have that to carry into the mega event.
Despite this, Virat Kohli and the coaching staff might still give him a chance in the opening games. If he wants to remain a guaranteed starter, he has no choice but to make a significant impact right from the start.
Written by: Prasenjit Dey