Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Not many bowlers begin their career, as well as Bhuvneshwar Kumar did, for India. He struck in his very first over in both ODIs and T20Is, both against Pakistan in 2012. Another one of Indian cricket's extracts from the state of Uttar Pradesh, his predecessors being Praveen Kumar and RP Singh, Kumar is well renowned for his ability to swing the ball both ways.

Bhuvneshwar got his name etched in the history books when he dismissed Sachin Tendulkar for a duck in first-class cricket. He didn’t get many opportunities in Tests but showed his true skills when he picked up his first five-for in the Nottingham Test in 2014. Another five-for followed in the next Test which India won at Lord’s which also put his name on the Lord’s Honours Board. He ended up taking 19 wickets in five matches besides scoring 247 runs with the help of three fifties. Things appeared rosy for Bhuvi at that time but soon the pressure of international cricket got to him. He failed to cope up with the extra workload and it started to reflect in his bowling. He struggled and didn’t take wickets as easily as he did before.

Consequently, Kumar lost his place in the side as he thrived for extra pace and in the process lost his main weapon, i.e. swing. After beginning with Bengaluru and a stint with Pune, it was with Hyderabad franchise in 2014 where he started to get his mojo back. There were talks about him being only a new-ball bowler but he toiled hard to better his bowling with the old ball and came out triumph, acquiring the quality to bowl fast yorkers at the death.