Taking it to the next level

For the last two seasons Praveen Kumar has given the impression of being a bowler cut out for the status of a domestic cricket legend: mightily impressive but lacking that certain something required to make it to the highest level.

He has lacked speed while bowling his canny medium-pacers, and control while hitting robustly. He has often thrown his wicket away after scoring a quick 20, and given his limited pace, sometimes tended to look innocuous after bowling three or four testing overs. Yet over the last two seasons he has shown enough intent, ferocity and persistence to attract attention. He is probably the only bowler in India who consistently swings the ball both ways. This has helped add a degree of hostility to an average pace of around 125kph. With his batting he has been a handy hitter both down the order and as a surprise opener.

In Uttar Pradesh's championship-winning season in 2005-06, when Kumar first came to prominence, he was easily the player of the year: 41 wickets and 386 runs, four five-fors, one 10-for, and three half-centuries. He was Mohammad Kaif's go-to man: whenever UP were in trouble, they could turn to Kumar and, sure enough, something would happen.

The immediate reward was a place in last year's Challenger Series, where he bowled 19 overs for 142 runs, and fared ordinarily with the bat. In the season that followed, although UP's performance took a plunge, Kumar managed to finish at No. 8 on the wicket-takers' list. That was followed by a call-up to the India A team for a triangular series in Kenya.

Like a man in hurry, in the first match in Kenya he followed up a three-wicket haul with an unbeaten 27-ball 57. In the few matches that he played for India A, he was at times spectacular and never below consistent. A place in this year's Challenger tournament was a well-deserved break and he responded with his tried and tested early-impact policy. The first ball of the tournament was a vicious in-dipper which left the batsman on the ground, trying to escape an lbw, and leaving the stumps exposed. In the second game Kumar hit Munaf Patel over extra cover for four, again off the first ball. It was followed by a six later in the over, and a five-for later in the match. Not for him the gentle loosener with the ball or the cautious sighter with the bat.

It will be impossible to get the statistics, but given his propensity to take swipes at the first ball he faces, he might end up with the most first-ball boundaries. It was a habit that first came to notice during the Ranji Trophy final two years ago. A flat wicket had set the stage for a saunter-your-way-to-a-first-innings-lead match. In a move that surprised all, Kumar walked out to open and slashed the first ball over the slips for four, and although he scored only 48 - in even time - he left the Bengal bowlers demoralised.

The aggression, the early starts, and the ability to bowl long, hostile spells have helped him use his limited ability and become one of the most valuable players in domestic cricket. But it is a huge leap from domestic cricket to international cricket, a gap as wide as the one between Ranadeb Bose and Mohammad Asif.

The quality of opposition he has faced so far is a long way off international standard. This season even the Challenger Series does not feature many India players. In domestic cricket Kumar has managed to bully his way through, but he is headed for an arena where he is likely to be bullied himself. Does he have another level that he can raise his game to? He might end up getting only a chance or two, but that shouldn't worry him: he is used to explosive starts.