Challenger Trophy Final: Five players to watch out for

4. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (India Blue, right arm medium pacer)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

He has done extremely well in recent times, be it for the national side, his Ranji team or the Pune Warriors in the IPL. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has rightfully earned his place in the sun, with admirable control over swing and seam. In short, he can make the ball talk and keep working over the batsman until the latter succumbs to the pressure and plays a false stroke.

A line-and-length bowler who usually hits the 130 km/hour mark, the young man hasn’t exactly been able to exhibit the same sort of nagging accuracy in the ongoing Challenger series – he conceded 74 runs in a nine over spell against India Red, with only one wicket to show for his efforts. But with Kohli, Sehwag, Chand and Gambhir in the opposition ranks, Bhuvi will have to really pull up his socks and focus on pitching the ball in the right areas.

He is also a useful lower-order batsman, having once made a century in the Duleep Trophy at No. 8, and can therefore be relied upon to score a few extra runs that may end up making all the difference between a win and a loss. Certainly a player to be focused on, for sure!