Top 5 bowling performances in the Indian home season of 2016-17

#3 Bhuvneshwar Kumar (5-48, India vs New Zealand, 2^nd Test match 1^st innings)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar finished with his career-best haul in India

How often do we see the Indian fast bowlers outshining the spinners when playing at home? The 2^nd Test against New Zealand at Eden Gardens was one such occasion. Both Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami bowled fiery spells to help India clinch the series, but it was the former’s first innings performance that stands out.

The first wicket Kumar took was that of the luckless Martin Guptill, who was bowled off his elbow. Henry Nicholls struggled for some time before he too was dismissed by the swing bowler.

The Indian pacers were impressive at the start of the innings but it was Kumar’s spell in the last hour of play that yanked the game India’s way. As the game resumed after a stop in play due to rain, the conditions were ideal for him – the light had faded, and the ball was swinging and keeping low at the same time.

Ross Tayler nicked a delivery that held its line and had to depart as Murali Vijay completed the catch. A couple of overs later, Kumar trapped Mitchell Santner plumb in front with a devious inswinger. Matt Henry soon followed suit as Kumar bowled him with another inswinger that kept low. Kumar’s figures in that spell read 3/13 as he completed a five-wicket haul, his first in India.