Ind vs Eng 5th T20: India’s huge 224-run total, powered by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s half-centuries, looked in danger after some fine batting from Josh Buttler and Dawid Malan. But India’s pacer duo of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shardul Thakur brought India back into the game in the 5th T20 in Ahemdabad. If Bhuvenshwar restricted the England batsmen, Shardul got important wickets. With the performances the duo has put in throughout the series, they have all but confirmed their spots in the T20 World Cup, slated for October-November in India.
Ind vs Eng 5th T20: Bhuvneshwar Kumar making England batters’ lives difficult: With Jasprit Bumrah rested for India’s limited-overs series against England, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, returning from injury, was tasked with leading India’s pace attack. The UP bowler, although did not get many wickets, played the role of restricting the batsmen. His variations and bowling tight lines, especially in the death overs, kept India in the game.
On Saturday, India needing to defend 224 runs looked set to be bulldozed by Malan and Buttler. But Bhuvneshwar was exceptional. On a batting pitch that had not much for bowlers, he kept bowling in perfect lines and restricted England batsmen. His 2/15 in four overs was the highlight of the match. His tight bowling put pressure on the England batsmen who tried to take it out on other bowlers with big shots but got out.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar in India vs England T20 series:
1st T20I: 2 overs, 15 runs, 0 wickets; Economy: 7.50
2nd T20I: 4 overs, 28 runs, 1 wicket; Economy: 7.00
3rd T20I: 4 overs, 27 runs, 0 wickets; Economy: 6.75
4th T20I: 4 overs, 30 runs, 1 wicket; Economy: 7.50
5th T20I: 4 overs, 15 runs, 2 wickets; Economy: 3.75
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Ind vs Eng 5th T20: Shardul Thakur, India’s new wicket-taker pacer: Shardul Thakur will remember the series for many reasons. While his poor fielding sent social media on fire, his wicket-taking deliveries brought India back into the game in the 4th T20I and again in the 5th T20I.
He has been expensive throughout the series, leaking 168 runs in 17.2 overs that he bowled with an economy of 9.69. But he got the wickets. In the series, he scalped eight wickets, becoming the highest wicket-taker in the series with a strike rate of 13.0.
But the India vs England series wasn’t a one-off for the Mumbai pacer. In New Zealand, he bagged eight wickets from five matches. Before that, he returned with six wickets from three matches against Sri Lanka.
Shardul Thakur in India vs England T20 series:
1st T20I: 2 overs, 16 runs, 0 wickets; Economy: 8.00
2nd T20I: 4 overs, 29 runs, 2 wickets; Economy: 7.25
3rd T20I: 3.2 overs, 36 runs, 0 wickets; Economy: 10.80
4th T20I: 4 overs, 42 runs, 3 wickets; Economy: 10.50
5th T20I: 4 overs, 45 runs, 3 wickets; Economy: 11.25
With such impressive performances, Shardul and Bhuvneshwar have all but secured their places in India’s T20 World Cup squad. Barring any lat injuries, it could also see Mohammed Shami missing out from the World Cup squad.
Ind vs Eng 5th T20: Bhuvneshwar, Shardul bowl India to victory, T20 World Cup spots almost sealed for the duo
