Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the best bowler in IPL history, declares Muttiah Muralitharan

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the best bowler in IPL history, declares Muttiah Muralitharan

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BCCI

Muttiah Muralitharan has picked Bhuvneshwar Kumar over compatriot Lasith Malinga and West Indian spinner Sunil Narine as the best bowler in IPL history. The legendary spinner also explained the impact that Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi would have on cricket in Afghanistan.

While IPL has always been more favorable to the batsmen, bowlers have had their time in the limelight as well. Lasith Malinga has made a name for himself in the IPL thanks to his 147 wickets in 102 matches at an astonishing average of 18.51. However, Muralitharan has opted to go for the Indian pacer as his choice for the greatest in the IPL.

“I think he’s the best. I’m not saying this because he’s from SRH. But over the last four-five years that I’ve been seeing him, even when I was not here (with Hyderabad), he’s the best bowler in IPL history. He bowls two overs in the Power Play and two at the death, and his economy rate is so low," Muralitharan, who is the bowling coach of SRH, told WisedenIndia in an interview. 

“He’s so successful, not just this IPL, but last year and the year before … every time. Whatever the team has asked of him, he has delivered. Unfortunately, he hasn’t played much T20 cricket for India (only 16 games, in which he has taken 16 wickets and gone at 6.68 per over). He will be a very big prospect for India as well, in these conditions or in any conditions. Hopefully, people will realize that, because he hasn’t played much for India. He’s one of the most successful bowlers in IPL history as a fast bowler.”

Everyone knows Dhoni is the finest finisher in the world. Sometimes, it’s very hard to bowl yorkers to him because he has a different way of playing.

Bhuvneshwar, who won the Purple cap last season, has been the standout performer for the defending Champions this season as well, claiming 16 wickets so far. His death bowling exploits have created quite a buzz this season, winning a couple of games single-handedly for his side. But against Rising Pune Supergiant, who needed 30 runs off two overs, MS Dhoni took 19 runs off the Indian pacer to swing the game in his team's favour. The Sri Lankan spinner, however, refused to accept that the SRH pacer had bowled poorly.

“See, Dhoni is experienced. Everyone knows he’s the finest finisher in the world. Sometimes, it’s very hard to bowl yorkers to him because he has a different way of playing. Even the yorkers go for a straight six," Muralitharan explained.

“That was Dhoni’s day, it happens. Every bowler can’t go quiet every time. Dhoni is such a class player. We bowled well. I won’t say we didn’t. Ten runs went off Bhuvneshwar off very good yorkers – a four and a six. It happens in cricket. Players as talented as Dhoni will perform. You can’t keep them out. Unfortunately, it happened against us and we lost,” he grins broadly. “And it’s our fault as well because we didn’t take a few catches. If we’d taken them, we’d have had a good chance of winning the game.”

But Bhuvneshwar isn't the only SRH bowler who has been hogging the headlines. With Hyderabad knowing that they would be without the services of Mustafizur Rahman for a decent part of the season, the defending Champions secured the services of Afghan youngster Rashid Khan in the IPL auction for a staggering 4 crores. The teenager has repaid this faith by claiming 10 scalps in just seven games so far. Muralitharan, however, focused more on the impact the Afghan would have on the development of cricket in his country rather than his obvious talent with the ball.

We (Sri Lanka) also came through like that in the 1980s. Zimbabwe and Bangladesh too. Even if they get Test status, it will take them 10-15 years to make an impact.

“The spinners from Afghanistan are very good. They haven’t played with a lot of experienced players; they will learn. At the moment, both have done brilliantly. They have delivered more than what we expected. So we’re very satisfied. Last year, we didn’t have spinners. This year, we have strong spinners. We have Pravin Tambe too, who’s bowling really well. He’s not getting an opportunity because Bipul (Sharma) is there. We have four top spinners. The opportunities will come. The Afghans will take this experience into their international game,”  Muralitharan said.

"We saw them (Rashid and Nabi). As a franchise, we thought it was not about how the country played in international cricket. These two players have played in various leagues – BPL, PSL – and done really well. This (playing in the IPL) will give a huge boost to their national team because coming from a non-Test country and playing in the IPL, the biggest T20 tournament in the world … that means there are capable players in their country. The only thing is to get the infrastructure right and boost them. We (Sri Lanka) also came through like that in the 1980s. Zimbabwe and Bangladesh too. Even if they get Test status, it will take them 10-15 years to make an impact.”

Spinners have always been the main threat in the 10 years in which the IPL has existed. Three among the top five wicket takers in the league are spinners and the man who claimed an incredible 800 test wickets explained why spinners are so effective in the league. 

“Spinners always succeed in T20 cricket because it’s important to take the pace off the ball. Spinners have done well in every IPL. Spinners play less because sometimes every team plays three fast bowlers and one spinner. You see the fast bowlers take more wickets because you have maybe one or two spinners who are playing. You can’t compare those (numbers). Overall, spinners have done well in T20 cricket,” Muralitharan said.

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