Out-of-favor Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar delivered an outstanding performance in his Ranji Trophy comeback match against Bengal on Friday (January 12). Making a return to the red-ball format after a gap of six years, the veteran pacer played for Uttar Pradesh against Bengal at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur and ended Day 1 with impressive bowling figures of 5/25 in 13 overs, with three maidens.
This marked Bhuvneshwar’s first red-ball game since 2018 when he was awarded the Player of the Match in the Johannesburg Test against South Africa.
Representing UP for the first time since November 2016 in the Ranji Trophy, he made an instant mark with a superb spell of swing bowling with the new cherry. After being bowled out for 60, Bhuvneshwar’s five-wicket haul ensured his side remained in the game despite conceding the first-innings lead. Operating with the new ball, Bhuvi swiftly dismissed opener Sourav Paul and Sudip Kumar Gharami within a span of three balls. In the same spell, he got the wickets of Anustup Majumdar, captain Manoj Tiwary, and Abishek Porel to complete the five-wicket haul.
Bengal was reduced to 95/5 at stumps on day 1, with Bhuvneshwar dismissing key players in quick succession, including opener Sourav Paul, Sudip Kumar Gharami, Anustup Majumdar, captain Manoj Tiwary, and Abishek Porel.
Injuries had prematurely halted Bhuvneshwar’s promising Test career, which featured four five-wicket hauls in 21 matches, including a memorable six-fer at the Lord’s against England in 2014.
Having showcased impressive performances for UP with the white ball, taking 11 wickets in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and 16 wickets in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Bhuvneshwar’s return to Ranji Trophy was highly anticipated. With Bengal holding a lead of just 35 runs, the Bhuvneshwar Kumar-led UP bowling attack will aim to secure the remaining wickets before commencing their second innings with the bat.