India embark on their World T20 campaign on Tuesday in Nagpur, hoping a win against the mighty New Zealand can set them up for a victorious run of form that leads to the title on 3rd April. The only drawback in the home team’s preparation has been regarding the fitness of pacer Mohammed Shami, who is still recovering from a Grade II left hamstring injury.
Because there are still questions over how much of a part the injury-prone Shami can play in the World T20, India have a 16th member of the squad travelling with them at the moment – Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
In India’s last training session before the tournament, on Monday, Bhuvneshwar did not bowl in the main nets, because he is officially not part of the 15-member squad originally submitted. He did roll his arm over in an arena behind the VCA stadium, as local batsmen padded up to him.
Also read: ICC T20 World Cup 2016: India vs New Zealand Match Predictions, Pitch Report, Match News
Support staff addition, Bhuvneshwar’s 2/8
This is not the first time India have had an extra squad member travelling with them at a major international event. Dhawal Kulkarni was unofficially the 16th member in India’s 2015 World Cup squad. He was kept as backup if one of the pacers landed an injury, and it had later been revealed that the BCCI had to pay Rs 2 crore to the ICC for having him.
Kulkarni had travelled with the team in the official capacity of a support staff member. There has been no official word on Bhuvneshwar Kumar's status in the World T20.
Bhuvneshwar’s recent form has been woeful, but he has earned his way back into the periphery of the team with one of the best T20I bowling performances of the year against UAE in the Asia Cup. It is the only T20I he has played this year, and the opposition were not of the quality of New Zealand and other big teams, but his 2/8 in 4 overs was a sign of what he is still capable of.
The other addition made to the India squad for the World T20s is of masseur Rajeev Kumar. This appointment has been made because a second masseur has been felt to be necessary to withstand the rigours of cricket’s shortest format.
Masseur Arun Kanade continues to be with the team, as the Men in Blue go into the tournament with two masseurs. It is learnt that the entire squads’ needs could not be fulfilled by Kanade alone, and so the addition.
Also read: Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium Nagpur (VCA) Records
Bhuvneshwar with the rest of the team at a recent team event:
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