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Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar Singh (born 5 February 1990), often known as Bhuvi, also regarded as “Swing King” and “Swing Sulthan” is an Indian international cricketer who played for the Indian cricket team from 2012 to 2022. He currently plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League and Uttar Pradesh in domestic cricket. Kumar swings the ball both ways efficiently, with his inswingers more effective than outswing. Initially starting his career as an opening swing bowler, Bhuvneshwar Kumar upgraded his bowling armoury with reverse swing, slower balls and Yorkers to become a death over specialist. With India, Kumar won the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. He became the first bowler to win a purple cap of IPL in two consecutive seasons.

He made his international debut in December 2012 against Pakistan, taking three wickets in a Twenty20 International, including one in his first over. He went on to make his One Day International (ODI) debut in the series which followed, where he took a wicket on his first ball. He is the first Indian bowler to take a five-wicket haul in Test cricket, ODIs and T20Is. He is the only bowler whose first wicket in all three formats of the game was bowled. During the 2022 Asia Cup, he was the highest wicket taker with 11 wickets.

Early life

Bhuvneshwar Kumar was born in Meerut on 5 February 1990 to Kiran Pal Singh, a police officer.

His sister encouraged him to play cricket and took him to his first coaching centre when he was 13.

Domestic career

Kumar plays for Uttar Pradesh in domestic cricket; he has also played for Central Zone in the Duleep Trophy and made his first-class debut at the age of 17 against Bengal. In the 2008/09 Ranji Trophy final, he became the first bowler to dismiss Sachin Tendulkar for a duck in first-class cricket.

Indian Premier League

Following his performances in the 2008/09 Ranji season, he was given an Indian Premier League (IPL) contract by Royal Challengers Bangalore. In 2011, he was signed by Pune Warriors India, but after the team was dissolved in 2013, he was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for ₹4.25 crores during the 2014 IPL Auction.

In 2016, he played in Sunrisers' team which won the 2016 Indian Premier League, taking 23 wickets and winning the Purple Cap as the bowler who took most wickets during the season. In 2018, he was named the team's vice-captain.

In the 2022 Indian Premier League mega-auction, Kumar was bought by the Sunrisers Hyderabad for ₹4.20 crores.

International career

Kumar made his international debut at the end of 2012, playing in T20I and ODI matches against Pakistan. He made his Test debut in 2013 and was part of the Indian team which won the 2013 Champions Trophy. He was named in the Team of the Tournament by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

In July 2013, he posted career-best figures of four wickets for eight runs (4/8) against Sri Lanka in the Tri-Nation tournament. He was the leading wicket taker in the tournament and awarded the Player of the Series.

During the 2014 tour of England, Kumar took new career-best Test match bowling figures of 6/82 at Lord's; he was named the Indian Player of the Series.

In February 2018, he took a five-wicket haul in a T20I against South Africa. He became the second Indian bowler to take 5 wickets in T20Is. In January 2019, in the first ODI against Australia, Kumar took his 100th wicket in ODIs. In April 2019, he was named in India's squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup but was later ruled out of a number of matches due to a leg injury. In June 2021, he was named India's vice-captain for their ODI and T20I matches against Sri Lanka and in September 2021, Kumar was named in India's squad for the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

In June 2022, Kumar was named India's vice-captain for their T20I matches against Ireland.