Making a comeback in the Indian team for the limited overs series against England, pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar won the ICC Player of the Month award on Tuesday. Bhuvneshwar defeated ace leg-spinner Rashid Khan of Afghanistan and Zimbabwe’s Sean Williams.
The right-arm swing bowler took six wickets at an economy rate of 4.65 in the three ODIs against England. He also managed to take four wickets at an incredible economy rate of 6.38 in the five T20Is to emerge as the standout bowler for the ‘Men in Blue.’
After getting the award, Kumar claimed that he was delighted to be playing for India again after a long and painful gap. He also thanked the ICC voting academy and all the fans who voted for him.
“I used the time away to work on my fitness and skill and I am happy to be back taking wickets for my country,”
he said.
Bhuvi became the third successive Indian recipient of the award since its inception early this year. In January, the award went to flamboyant wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant for his heroics in Australia. Experienced off-spinner Ravi Ashwin won it in February following a magnificent home Test series against England.
Former Indian batsman and SRH coach VVS Laxman praised Bhuvi for his incredible comeback. He said that Bhuvi was instrumental in shaping Indian triumphs in both limited overs series against England. Kumar missed more than a year of international cricket due to multiple injuries but the ace Indian bowler hasn’t lost his touch at all.
