NZ vs IND: Bhuvneshwar Kumar on the verge of a rare T20I milestone


image-lam1qfejBhuvneshwar Kumar in action [Source: AP]

India will play a three-match T20I series against hosts New Zealand from November 18 to 22. This series will serve as the stepping stone for India's preparations for the next T20 World Cup in 2024. 

Meanwhile, the series will also provide veteran India speedster Bhuvneshwar Kumar with the opportunity to etch his name in the record books. For information, Kumar is on the verge of recording the most T20I dismissals in a single calendar year. He has already bagged 36 wickets and needs only four more dismissals to his name to attain this phenomenal milestone. 

Kumar equals with Wanindu Hasaranga and Tabraiz Shamsi and lags behind Sandeep Lamichhane and Joshua Little in this regard. Notably, Little tops the chart with 39 wickets in 26 matches at a superb strike rate of 14.9. 


Most T20I wickets in a calendar year

  • Joshua Little - 39 Wickets in 26 matches in 2022
  • Sandeep Lamichhane - 38 Wickets in 18 matches in 2022
  • Wanindu Hasaranga - 36 Wickets in 20 matches in 2021
  • Tabraiz Shamsi - 36 Wickets in 22 matches in 2021
  • Bhuvneshwar Kumar - 36 Wickets in 30 matches in 2022*

However, Kumar had an underwhelming T20 World Cup campaign, scalping only four wickets at an ordinary average of 28.75. His only notable spell came against the Netherlands, as he scalped two wickets for nine runs in his three-over spell. 


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