Table of Contents
Former Australian captain Aaron Finch‘s recurring battle against Indian paceman Bhuvneshwar Kumar has left an indelible mark on their cricketing rivalry. The right-handed opener’s persistent struggles to navigate Bhuvneshwar’s skillful deliveries have been a captivating subplot in international cricket.
The saga of Finch’s challenges against Bhuvi unfolded in 2019 when the Indian seamer dismissed Finch on four consecutive occasions in One Day Internationals (ODIs). In a sequence that tested Finch’s technique and patience, his scores stood at a mere 6, 6, 14, and a duck in those encounters.
Bhuvneshwar’s prowess wasn’t limited to the 50-over format. He also managed to dismiss Finch twice in Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) and once during the 2016 Indian Premier League (IPL) edition. This string of dismissals underscored Bhuvneshwar’s ability to exploit Finch’s vulnerabilities consistently.
Despite these challenges, Finch, known for his resilience, continued to battle against Bhuvneshwar’s probing deliveries. However, the struggle culminated earlier this year when Finch decided to bid adieu to international cricket. His retirement marked the end of a remarkable career that spanned five Tests, 146 ODIs, and 103 T20Is.
Finch’s overall contribution to the game included 8804 runs across formats, highlighted by 19 centuries and 51 half-centuries. Under his captaincy, Australia achieved 40 victories out of 76 matches in the shortest format. Finch’s leadership reached its pinnacle in 2021 when he led the Australian team to their maiden ICC T20 World Cup triumph.
Also WATCH: Rohit Sharma and his wife Ritika Sajdeh cruise the streets of Mumbai in their striking blue Lamborghini Urus
Aaron Finch’s cheeky response
Reflecting on his battles against Bhuvneshwar, Finch recently engaged in a lighthearted exchange on social media. When asked about his struggles against Bhuvneshwar’s deliveries, Finch cheekily responded, “Yep!! Tried for 15 years to stop that happening,” in a tweet that was quote-retweeted.
Yep!! Tried for 15 years to stop that happening 😂 https://t.co/5g1b0rFPRH
— Aaron Finch (@AaronFinch5) August 10, 2023
Talking about Bhuvneshwar, it appears improbable that he will be granted an opportunity to represent India in the coming times. His most recent appearance for the national team was in a T20I match against New Zealand in November 2022. However, the 33-year-old does not seem to be considered for selection in upcoming events such as the Asia Cup and the ODI World Cup.
Recently, Bhuvneshwar has raised concerns about his future involvement with the Indian team. This was prompted by a slight alteration he made to his Instagram bio. Notably, he changed his description from ‘Indian cricketer’ to simply ‘cricketer,’ which has led to speculation about his upcoming retirement from international cricket.
