Bhuvneshwar
Kumar’s 4 for 26 in the India versus Pakistan Asia Cup match Sunday will go
down in history as an Indian bowler’s best performance against arch rival
Pakistan. His solid leg cutters ensured Pakistan were limited to 147 runs in
their 20 overs. Kumar and Hardik Pandya took a total of seven wickets together
not allowing any Pakistani batsman to settle in with the exception of opener Mohammed
Rizwan who scored 43 runs of 42 balls.

Prior to
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s Sunday figures, the best bowling figures for an Indian
bowler was by Hardik Pandya who took three wickets for eight runs in a 2016
Asia Cup game in Mirpur, Bangladesh. Had Shahnawaz Dahani not hit Bhuvaneshwar
Kumar for a six in his second-last delivery, Kumar’s numbers would be the best between
the two teams as well. Right now, the best bowling figures lie with Mohammed
Asif who took four for 18 runs in an India versus Pakistan game in Durban,
South Africa back in 2007.

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After his
splendid performance, Bhuvneshwar Kumar said, “When we looked at the wicket,
we thought it would swing but there was no swing. There was bounce, but we know
what balls we have to bowl. When you bowl short, few were skidding and some
were coming slow.”

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“To be
honest, we gave 10-15 runs extra. New ball is always tricky on this wicket.
There could be bounce for their bowlers too, but I’m backing our batters to
chase this down,” Kumar said.

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In Sunday’s
match against Pakistan, India won the toss and elected to field first. Rohit
Sharma and his team are chasing a total of 147. At the time of writing, India lost
KL Rahul’s wicket to debutant Pakistani pacer Naseem Shah. Rahul was out for a
duck.