Sunil Gavaskar: Bhuvi’s death overs bowling, a real concern

Bhuvneshwar Kumar during the first T20I v Australia. Pic/AFP

The legendary Sunil Gavaskar feels senior pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar's poor show at the death overs is a "real concern" for India, going into next month's T20 World Cup.

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No dew factor

Bhuvneshwar has leaked quite a lot of runs at the death in the last few matches. His 16-run 19th over allowed Australia to pull off a record chase of 209 in the first T20I in Mohali on Tuesday night. "I don't think there was too much dew. We didn't see the fielders or bowlers trying to use the towel to try and dry their fingers. That's not an excuse. We didn't bowl well. For example, that 19th over...that's a real concern," Gavaskar said on Sports Today.

"Somebody like a Bhuvneshwar Kumar is going for runs every single time, when he is expected. In 18 deliveries he has bowled in three matches against Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and now Australia, he has given away 49 runs. "It is almost three runs per ball. Somebody with his experience and calibre, you expect he will give 35-36 runs in those 18 deliveries. That really is an area of concern."

Former head coach Ravi Shastri also came down heavily on India for their "sloppy standard of fielding" in the first T20I. Defending 208, Indian fielders dropped as many as three catches, including that of Cameron Green (61 off 30 balls) and Matthew Wade (45 not out off 21 balls).

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Shastri slams poor fielding

"If you look at all the top Indian teams over the years, there is youth and experience. I find the youth missing here and hence the fielding," Shastri, who was in the commentary box, said. "It means that as a batting side you have to get that 15-20 runs game after game, because if you look around the field, where is brilliance? There is no Jadeja. Where is that X-factor? "What I was disappointed today with was the standard of fielding. I mean, it looks sloppy and I think you need a big upping of the ante when it comes to the fielding if you have to beat big sides in big competitions," Shastri said.

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