Former New Zealand fast bowler Simon Doull, who is currently in Kolkata due to his commentary commitments in the ongoing India Sri Lanka series, feels that Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has been in tremendous form in the recent past, has the quality to make a difference during the upcoming South Africa tour next year.
“I think Bhuvi is as good as others in the world at the moment. He has upped his pace, he swings and seams. He can get wickets even for good wickets. He is a line and length bowler, that’s his trade. Bhuvi will be very important in South Africa,” Doull was heard saying to the reporters.
The 48-year-old cricketer turned commentator highly praised Mohammad Shami but added that Umesh Yadav needs to work more on his accuracy otherwise he will face some serious competition from the likes of Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah who is in line for Test selection.
“Shami is also an outstanding bowler. They have two world-class bowlers in Bhuvi and Shami. But Yadav is a little below that standard at the moment. He needs to work on a couple things to be more consistent. In the modern day game, a genuine pacer now bowls at 150 kmph. He is a great exponent with an old ball and when conditions don’t favor him he may be fighting for a spot maybe with Ishant or the next seamer who could be Bumrah, who knows he might go on to play a Test,” Doull further mentioned.
Doull also admitted that Indian bowlers would have to accurate to be successful as Kookaburra ball’s seam will go soft after the first-hour play, unlike the SG balls that are used in India. However, he added there would be no need for a fourth seamer in South Africa.
“The bounce helps spinners as well and my preference is always to pick your best bowlers. If they are spinners, so be it. No point picking the fourth seamer for the heck of it. When you have two quality spinners, they can do the job for you. I always favor of picking your best bowlers,” he concluded.
India will play three Test matches, six ODI’s and three T20I’s in a two-month long tour.