Sachin Tendulkar Feels Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s Injury Will Hurt India

India began their long England tour with a 2-1 T20I series win but were soon overpowered by the host nation as they won the ODI series by the same margin.

Cricket news: India will miss the services of both Bhuvi and Bumrah

Currently the entire focus of both the teams have shifted to the gruelling five-match Test series which will begin from August 1 at Edgbaston.

India will be without the services of their main spearhead Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is suffering from a stiff back. Former Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar feels that Bhuvi’s injury will be a “real setback” for India.

Bhuvi is known for his excellent swing in both sides and can also prove handy with the bat down the order. Four years ago, when India won the only Test match at Lord’s in the Investec series, Bhuvi had built had a crucial partnership with Ravindra Jadeja.

Along with Bhuvi, Jasprit Bumrah is also set to miss the first Test and is doubtful for the second one too. This is why Tendulkar is a bit sceptical about India’s chances in this series.

“Bhuvi’s injury is a real setback for India. I for one was expecting a lot from him. He has over the years performed at a level that you expect a certain kind of performance from him. With his ability to swing the ball, he was going to be very critical to India’s scheme of things during the Test series. And let’s not forget those runs that Bhuvi scored in England during the last series. He is a decent enough batsman, who could string those partnerships at the back end of the innings,” said Tendulkar, as quoted by CricketCountry.

“Bumrah was certainly missed by India in the ODI series during those crucial death overs where he has been a champion bowler. He has started off well in Test cricket and this series is a wonderful opportunity for him. But he is expected to come back during the second Test. So I am hoping for the best,” he further added.

In the entire tour so far, Kuldeep Yadav has been the sole Indian who has performed consistently and has managed to trouble the English batsmen.

Recently Joe Root has somewhat cracked Kuldeep’s mystery which can be a headache to the management. But the record-holder of 100 international tons believes that Kuldeep can weave his magic again in the Test series.

“Whatever I saw on television, Root picked Kuldeep from his hand and did that really well. Now Kuldeep’s wrist action is a complex one and once he lands the ball, I don’t think too many batsmen in world cricket have got the ability to tackle him off the pitch. Root could afford to play Kuldeep late because he was picking his wrist position early,” said the 45-year-old.

“I don’t think all the other England batsmen have played Kuldeep well. The kind of weather that has been in England with the sun baking the pitches, Kuldeep will be very much in action and so will be the other Indian spinners,” he further added.