Bhuvneshwar captures 8/41 for UP against Bengal in the Ranji Trophy

Pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar is back with a bang. Weeks before India's five-match home Test series against England, he made a career-best 8/41 in 22 overs for previous champions Uttar Pradesh in a Ranji Trophy match on Saturday in Kanpur. His incredible return to red-ball cricket has elevated him back into the conversation.

The 33-year-old seamer, who last participated in a Test match in 2018 against South Africa, finished his tally of wickets in the first innings of Bengal on Saturday at the Green Park field. The wickets were taken on a green surface. Bhuvi has amassed 231 wickets in white-ball cricket, including 141 in 121 ODIs. He has also amassed 63 wickets in 21 Test matches, his best being an 8/96 against Sri Lanka at Eden Garden.

Match Highlights

Nearly seven years after making his first-class debut for UP, Bhuvi still astounded Bengal hitters with his swing on Day Two of the four-day Elite Group 'B' match. On Day One, he had smashed 5/25 in 13 overs.

He fired Sourav Paul (13), Pradipta Pramanik (1), Anustup Majumdar (12), Shreyansh Ghosh (41), Sudip Kumar Gharami (0), Manoj Tiwary (3), Abishek Porel (12), and Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal (20). After UP's first innings of 60 all out, Bengal were bowled for 188 thanks to Yash Dayal taking the final two wickets.

Using a superb inswinger, Bhuvi uprooted Jaiswal's middle stump on Saturday after trapping Pramanik's leg. Ghosh had edged to 'keeper Aryan Juyal.

Bhuvi, a bowler, put on an excellent display that demonstrated why he remains so reliable in all facets of the game. Former India spinner and UP coach Sunil Joshi remarked on Saturday that 'he deserves praise by everyone, including the national selectors, who should have watched him bowl in the match here.'

'I hope that Bhuvi will soon get his due again. He has been a great performer and a big inspiration to pace bowlers in India.'

Bhuvneshwar last played for the national squad in November 2022. The veteran bowler, who still aspires to play for India once more, must be feeling a lot more confident after his outstanding performance in the red ball return match.

The umpires declared the second innings over when Uttar Pradesh was 46/0 in 18 overs because of poor light. At the crease were Aryan Juyal (20 -- 58b, 2x4) and Samarth Singh (21 -- 50b, 3x4). Bengal is still ahead of Uttar Pradesh by 82 runs.

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