Bhuvneshwar Kumar likely to be fit for Boxing Day Test

Bhuvi had been ruled out of the first 2 Tests after injuring his left ankle in the build-up to the series.

Sources in the team have confirmed that the wiry swing bowler is likely to be fit for the Boxing Day Test. (Express file photo)

At the Gabba in their first innings, Australia scored at an insanely fast-rate of 4.60 while making 505. And they chased down their target of 128 at nearly run-a-ball despite losing six wickets. At Adelaide, their run-rates in two innings ranged between 4.2 and 4.3. This is Test cricket, and often the rate at which you score runs isn’t always a great indicator of the eventual outcome. But in many ways in this series so far, it’s meant that the visitors have failed to keep a lid on the Australians for any considerable amount of time. There’s always been a let-off.

And it’s here that they’ve missed Bhuvneshwar Kumar the most. The man, who not only kept snaring wickets in England but also ensured that at least one end remained bottled up. Kumar finished with 19 wickets at 26.63 and also an economy rate of 2.92.

The swing bowler had been ruled out of the first two Tests after injuring his left ankle in the build-up to the series. He had been seen carrying the drinks in Adelaide and Brisbane, but sauntering on to the ground gingerly and with great care.

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On Sunday, he appeared outside the team hotel in his training gear. The white bandage around his left ankle was conspicuous as he stood talking to bowling coach Bharat Arun. The two then along with Dhawal Kulkarni made a quick visit to the Gabba for a brief training session where Kumar’s ‘load-up’ was monitored among other things. The strap around his ankle is expected to remain in place for a couple of more days even as the team heads to Melbourne on Monday.

But sources in the team have confirmed that the wiry swing bowler is likely to be fit for the Boxing Day Test. There’s no doubt India will welcome Kumar back with open arms. While it was well and good hitting the Australians with fire and brimstone at the Gabba with three fast bowlers setting pulses racing, India will any day feel more comfortable with the UP new-ball bowler in the mix, even if he lack that sense of unabashed venom.

The MCG in recent times is known to have quickened up and is no longer the batting paradise it can be. And there’s a very good chance that Kumar will trouble every Australian batsman with his ability to move the ball and at the same time not give much away.

Kumar is someone who’ll keep plugging away at one end and bowl the ‘lamba spell’ that Dhoni so loves demanding of his bowlers. Like he showed in England, he also has a knack of getting rid of the top three. Apart from his bagful of wickets, Kumar was also handy with the bat. His inclusion for Melbourne could throw up a few selection dilemmas.

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