|| India Correspondent ||
Team India pace spearhead Bhuvneshwar Kumar has returned to the T20 squad for the upcoming T20I series against England after a long injury lay-off. And, former India cricketer VVS Laxman feels that he will play a crucial role for India in the T20 World Cup later this year. However, his workload management needs to be prioritised as well.
Bhuvneshwar had suffered a thigh muscle injury during last year's IPL which ruled him out of the cash-rich league as well as the tour of Australia too where India registered a historic victory. However, in Jasprit Bumrah's absence, his role with the ball will be important as well.
"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 further added.
However, the veteran hopes Bhuvneshwar to feature in not more than two games in the five-match series against England, beginning in Ahmedabad on Friday to be accustomed to everything. "I hope that he doesn't play all the five matches. I think he can be rested in between," he shared.
On the other hand, VVS Laxman backed the wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul as another opener alongside Rohit Sharma. He believes Shikhar Dhawan could be a back-up option as well as Rohit Sharma is one of the best openers in white-ball cricket in recent time. Meanwhile, Dhawan has some really good numbers in his name since IPL 2020 and Vijay Hazare campaign as well
"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. You have someone as experienced as Shikhar Dhawan, who can be the backup opener in case one of these openers Rohit Sharma/KL Rahul gets injured or lose their form," he concluded.