Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s Sensational Return to Ranji Trophy: Claims 8 Wickets in First Match
Bhuvneshwar Kumar made a sensational return to the Ranji Trophy after nearly six years, showcasing an outstanding performance by claiming eight wickets in the first match. Widely known as the “Swing King,” Bhuvneshwar had been absent from Team India for almost a year, as the BCCI hadn’t provided him with an opportunity since January 2022. In the 24th Ranji Trophy match against Bengal, the 33-year-old pacer displayed remarkable skills, making a comeback after a substantial hiatus.
Despite Uttar Pradesh stumbling at 60 runs against Bengal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar turned the tide with an exceptional performance. After Bengal set a lead of 128 runs, Uttar Pradesh, led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, restricted Bengal to 188 runs. Despite starting their second inning in the 9th position, Bengal couldn’t withstand Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s swing, and they were eventually all-out at 188.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar‘s brilliance shone through in this innings, bowling 22 overs, conceding only 41 runs, and securing 8 wickets, maintaining an impressive economy rate of 1.86. Following this outstanding performance, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has once again captured the attention of selectors.
In the second innings, Uttar Pradesh, without losing a wicket, managed to score 46 runs and is currently trailing Bengal by 82 runs.
This remarkable performance in the Ranji Trophy comes after Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s last match, which was almost a year ago. He played his last Test match against South Africa in January 2018, the last ODI on January 21, 2023, against South Africa, and the final T20I on February 22, 2022, against New Zealand. Throughout his career, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has claimed 63 wickets in 21 Tests, 141 wickets in 121 ODIs, and 90 wickets in 87 T20Is.