Tendulkar picks Bhuvi over hat-trick man Shami

Mumbai (PTI): Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar on Wednesday picked pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar over fellow speedster Mohammed Shami, who took a sensational last over hat-trick against Afghanistan, when an unbeaten India take on West Indies in their World Cup game at Manchester on Thursday. The Master Blaster picked 'Bhuvi', as pacer is commonly known, for his sheer ability to trouble swashbuckling West Indies batsman Chris Gayle. "It's a great news for India that Bhuvneshwar Kumar is fit. I have seen his body language which showed that he is really confident," Tendulkar told Star Sports.

Kumar (29) had sustained an injury against Pakistan and missed the game against Afghanistan, which India won by 11 runs on June 22.

Shami (29), who was drafted in the team in place of Kumar, took a hat-trick in the 50th over of Afghanistan's innings, becoming just the second Indian, after pacer Chetan Sharma, to achieve the feat in a World Cup match.

"The only reason being, Bhuvneshwar Kumar can bowl to Chris Gayle at the outer angle and that is what makes Chris Gayle uncomfortable. "I still remember how uncomfortable Chris Gayle was when Bhuvneshwar Kumar was bowling at him in the last Test I played," added Tendulkar.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's batting approach and position in the middle order will be the team management's primary concern.

As the league phase hits the home stretch, India will look to ensure a smooth passage into the semi-finals with yet another victory. But it could be easier said than done against a West Indies side, which might play party poopers with nothing to lose in their remaining few games.

In fact, West Indies' unpredictability and the former India captain's repeated failure during the important second Powerplay overs leaves skipper Virat Kohli with a few points to ponder.

Dhoni's painfully slow approach against the Afghanistan yielded 28 off 52 balls and he was roundly criticised. Even the normally restrained Sachin Tendulkar questioned the approach. "There was no positive intent," the usually reticent Tendulkar's observation on a TV channel has been spot on.

Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly has come in support of. Dhoni who had to face criticism for his slow knock against Afghanistan in India's World Cup game in Southampton.

Ganguly feels that his performance against Afghanistan was a one-off situation and he will prove that he is a great asset to the Indian team in the remaining matches of the tournament.

Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri till now have not been too keen to use Rishabh Pant's firepower. Pant can come in only if the team management considers the idea of Vijay Shankar being disposable.