‘Bhuvneshwar Kumar does not want to play Test cricket anymore’: Reports

Indian bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s exclusion from India’s squad for the tour to England came across as a shock to many cricket viewers, especially since the pacer had recently expressed his desire to make a comeback in the red-ball format.

A source, meanwhile, has informed TOI that Bhuvneshwar Kumar has lost zeal to play Test cricket. “Bhuvneshwar just doesn’t want to play Test cricket anymore. That drive has gone missing. Those who have seen him from close insist he brought in a huge change in his work-drills a couple of seasons ago, doing away with heavy weight training, falling to the lure of the white-ball comfort and avoiding those hours of long spells that are so integral to red-ball cricket. To be honest, the selectors don’t even see Bhuvi hungry for 10 overs, forget Test cricket. It’s Team India’s loss no doubt, because if one bowler should have made it to England, it should have been him.”

The report further added, “Ishant has been the backbone of India’s attack, and rightly so, but when was the last time he worked his way through an entire series? Injury relapses and niggles have been a constant irritant. That will leave the bulk of the responsibility on two pacers, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami. Their hard work, recent performances and the ability to deal with the given conditions has been a plus.”