<p>Former India cricketer VVS Laxman feels Bhuvneshwar Kumar will play a vital role in India's T20 World Cup campaign later this year and the pacer's workload management needs to be prioritised.</p>.<p>Bhuvneshwar returns to the T20 squad after a long injury lay-off. The senior pacer had suffered a thigh muscle injury during last year's IPL which ruled him out of the league as well as the tour of Australia.</p>.<p>"I still feel great and happy that Bhuvneshwar has regained fitness because he's such an important bowler, especially in white-ball cricket for India," Laxman said on <em>Star Sports</em>' 'Cricket Connected'.</p>.<p>"Apart from Jasprit Bumrah, if there's anyone in that Indian bowling line-up who has got the experience of bowling not only with the new ball but also at the death.</p>.<p>"He is such an important member, we have to look after Bhuvneshwar Kumar the fast bowler because he will be playing a very important role, come November when the World Cup will happen," Laxman added.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/cricket/ipl/ipl-will-help-in-t20-world-cup-preparation-says-billings-960319.html" target="_blank">IPL will help in T20 World Cup preparation, says Billings</a></strong></p>.<p>India's best white-ball exponent at his peak form, the Uttar Pradesh seamer last played a T20I in December 2019.</p>.<p>"For him to be 100 per cent fit, I think a lot of priority and prominence has to be given to manage the workload and the injury of Bhuvneshwar Kumar."</p>.<p>Laxman doesn't expect Bhuvneshwar to feature in more than two games in the five-match series against England, starting in Ahmedabad on Friday.</p>.<p>"I hope that he doesn't play all the five matches. I think he can be rested in between."</p>.<p>On the batting front, Laxman backed wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul over Shikhar Dhawan to open the innings alongside Rohit Sharma.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/rishabh-pant-can-be-a-match-winner-in-t20s-vvs-laxman-959920.html" target="_blank">Rishabh Pant can be a match-winner in T20s: VVS Laxman</a></strong></p>.<p>"It will be a tough question, as far as the selection of the second opener is concerned. There's no doubt about that because Rohit Sharma is an automatic choice in white-ball cricket.</p>.<p>"I will still go with KL Rahul because over the last few months and years, I think the Indian team management went with KL Rahul as an opening batsman and he has done really well in that position."</p>.<p>Despite good IPL and Vijay Hazare campaigns in the last few months, Dhawan is expected to be the reserve opener in the series.</p>.<p>"You have someone as experienced as Shikhar Dhawan, who can be the backup opener in case one of these openers Rohit Sharma/KL Rahul gets injured or lose their form," he added</p>
<p>Former India cricketer VVS Laxman feels Bhuvneshwar Kumar will play a vital role in India's T20 World Cup campaign later this year and the pacer's workload management needs to be prioritised.</p>.<p>Bhuvneshwar returns to the T20 squad after a long injury lay-off. The senior pacer had suffered a thigh muscle injury during last year's IPL which ruled him out of the league as well as the tour of Australia.</p>.<p>"I still feel great and happy that Bhuvneshwar has regained fitness because he's such an important bowler, especially in white-ball cricket for India," Laxman said on <em>Star Sports</em>' 'Cricket Connected'.</p>.<p>"Apart from Jasprit Bumrah, if there's anyone in that Indian bowling line-up who has got the experience of bowling not only with the new ball but also at the death.</p>.<p>"He is such an important member, we have to look after Bhuvneshwar Kumar the fast bowler because he will be playing a very important role, come November when the World Cup will happen," Laxman added.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/cricket/ipl/ipl-will-help-in-t20-world-cup-preparation-says-billings-960319.html" target="_blank">IPL will help in T20 World Cup preparation, says Billings</a></strong></p>.<p>India's best white-ball exponent at his peak form, the Uttar Pradesh seamer last played a T20I in December 2019.</p>.<p>"For him to be 100 per cent fit, I think a lot of priority and prominence has to be given to manage the workload and the injury of Bhuvneshwar Kumar."</p>.<p>Laxman doesn't expect Bhuvneshwar to feature in more than two games in the five-match series against England, starting in Ahmedabad on Friday.</p>.<p>"I hope that he doesn't play all the five matches. I think he can be rested in between."</p>.<p>On the batting front, Laxman backed wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul over Shikhar Dhawan to open the innings alongside Rohit Sharma.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/rishabh-pant-can-be-a-match-winner-in-t20s-vvs-laxman-959920.html" target="_blank">Rishabh Pant can be a match-winner in T20s: VVS Laxman</a></strong></p>.<p>"It will be a tough question, as far as the selection of the second opener is concerned. There's no doubt about that because Rohit Sharma is an automatic choice in white-ball cricket.</p>.<p>"I will still go with KL Rahul because over the last few months and years, I think the Indian team management went with KL Rahul as an opening batsman and he has done really well in that position."</p>.<p>Despite good IPL and Vijay Hazare campaigns in the last few months, Dhawan is expected to be the reserve opener in the series.</p>.<p>"You have someone as experienced as Shikhar Dhawan, who can be the backup opener in case one of these openers Rohit Sharma/KL Rahul gets injured or lose their form," he added</p>