IPL 2018: SRH a force to reckon as Bhuvneshwar Kumar stages a comeback

Sunrisers Hyderabad had retained only two players ahead of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018, their skipper David Warner and pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar. While Warner was not allowed to play pertaining to the ban imposed by Cricket Australia, Bhuvi hasn’t represented the team in four out of the eight matches they’ve played in the tournament thus far. There was little clarity about the reason for his absence while it was speculated that he was carrying an injury.

The Sunrisers management hasn’t talked about his injury. The exclusion of their premier pacer, however, hasn’t hurt the team’s cause as SRH sit on the second spot in the points table. Bhuvi finally opened about the scare that has kept him out of action all this while. He clarified that more than an injury forcing him out of action, it was a precautionary move by the team to ensure he isn’t ruled out.

Stiff back

He has had troubles with his back, just stiffness and to ensure it doesn’t aggravate into a serious injury the management made the decision to rest him. Bhuvi also confirmed that the move has worked and he should be able to return to the team soon enough. “My back has been stiff and it’s just a precautionary measure to give me some rest. I should be back soon,” he was quoted as saying by Mail Today.

SRH have won six matches after eight and have 12 points in their account with a healthy +0.514. They are second only to Chennai Super Kings who also have as many points but ace them with the Net Run Rate. Sunrisers need to win two of their remaining six matches to secure qualification points. The team will, however, aim to end up among the top two which gives them a better chance of making it to the final.

It was the match against Mumbai Indians that Bhuvneshwar missed first and is expected to return when the team next takes on Delhi Daredevils on May 5 at their home ground in Hyderabad. Thus far in the tournament, the right-arm pacer has six wickets to his name and he will be pleased with the fact that SRH have managed to defend unbelievably low totals even in his absence and when he joins the attack it will give them an edge to go all the way.

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