Top 5 surprise performances from the India-New Zealand Test series

#2 Bhuvneshwar Kumar swings it India’s way

Bhuvneshwar utilised the rare seam-friendly surface to his advantage

The major reason behind India’s formidable record on home soil has been their enviable supply of high quality spinners. Often faced with pitches wherein there might not be much work for the seamers apart from sending down a few overs early on and returning for another brief spell to make use of reverse swing, Bhuvneshwar Kumar found himself in the playing eleven on a surface which had a noticeable grass cover.

Responding to his skipper’s call, the swing proponent tore through the New Zealand batting lineup by picking up his fourth five-wicket haul in Tests. Even though the batsmen were hard done by having to deal with the vagaries of playing into the evening, Bhuvneshwar’s control and ability to shape the ball was commendable.