Bhuvneshwar will play important role in T20 World Cup, feels Laxman

New Delhi: Former cricketer VVS Laxman has expressed his delight on Bhuvaneshwar Kumar’s recovery and feels the pacer will play an important role in India’s T20 World Cup campaign later this year.

Bhuvneshwar had suffered a thigh muscle injury during IPL-2020 which ruled him out of the league as well as the tour of Australia. However, he has now returned to the Indian T20 squad for the England series after a long injury lay-off.

“I still feel great and happy that Bhuvneshwar has regained fitness because he’s such an important bowler, especially in white-ball cricket for India,” Laxman said on Star Sports’ ‘Cricket Connected’.

“Apart from Jasprit Bumrah, if there’s anyone in that Indian bowling line-up who has got the experience of bowling not only with the new ball but also at the death.

“He is such an important member, we have to look after Bhuvneshwar Kumar the fast bowler because he will be playing a very important role, come November when the World Cup will happen,” Laxman added.

Laxman also feels Bhuvneshwar’s workload management needs to be prioritised and he doesn’t expect pacer to feature in more than two games in the five-match series against England, starting on Friday.

“For him to be 100 per cent fit, I think a lot of priority and prominence has to be given to manage the workload and the injury of Bhuvneshwar Kumar,” said Laxman.

“I hope that he doesn’t play all the five matches. I think he can be rested in between,” he added.

Talking about batting, former India batsman backed KL Rahul over Shikhar Dhawan to open the innings alongside Rohit Sharma. He suggested that Dhawan should be kept in the mix of things as India’s backup opener going into the T20 World Cup this year.

“It will be a tough question, as far as the selection of the second opener is concerned. There’s no doubt about that because Rohit Sharma is an automatic choice in white-ball cricket,’’ he said.

“I will still go with KL Rahul because over the last few months and years, I think the Indian team management went with KL Rahul as an opening batsman and he has done really well in that position,” he added. (UNI)