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Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar came forward for pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, said that he is a strong contender to be in the India squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup which is set to be held in Australia. Backing his comment, Gavaskar also said that he has tried hard to overcome his bad patch and nobody can take his place for granted.
"Bhuvneshwar Kumar is again making a point. Yes, he had a pretty ordinary series in South Africa. But he has come back well. Again, look at the competition, nobody can take his place for granted," Gavaskar told Star Sports.
"He has been a senior bowler for such a long time, the moment he slipped a little bit and questions were asked about him, he has picked himself up," he added.
Gavaskar added that Kumar tries constantly to improve his bowling every single day and adapt to the tracks he plays on. As a senior bowler, he can provide powerful performances in an important ICC tournament. "He hasn’t gone into a shell, thinking ‘oh what is going to happen?’. He has worked harder, he has looked at his bowling and he is trying to get better with every passing day," he stated.
"And that’s what is important. He is not resting on his laurels. He is saying with the extra pace and the bounce that I will get in Australia, he will be in the frame," the former India skipper suggested.
The 32 -year old pacer has managed to become an impressive performer over the years but with growing competition for the pacers' slot in the XI, he will have to continue his good work to be a regular member of the XI. The Uttar Pradesh-born cricketer was ineffective in the South Africa series but he had a good series against the West Indies, continuing the same against Sri Lanka. In the first T20I against Sri Lanka, he picked up a wicket off his first delivery itself.
As per reports, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami are the expected first-choice pace bowlers in the squad. In addition, bowling all-rounders Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakur are also vying for a place in the side.