Kolkata: India’s swing sensation Bhuvneshwar Kumar took the wickets of both the Australian openers inside first five overs to give the host an upper hand in the second ODI at the Eden Gardens today. He is performing very well for India across all formats of the game. Though Bhuvneshwar don’t want to consider himself as the nation’s premier fast bowler, according to Bhuvi who ever gets the opportunity to represent the country they all are premier.
“I won’t say premier as everyone is premier when they get the opportunity. Same for me, so that’s something which we never really think about. Workload is something we take great care about. Thanks to our physio and trainer who manage us really well,” said Bhuvneshwar Kumar at the post match press-conference today.
Bhuvi took 3 wickets and gave just nine runs in his 6.1 overs spell. In his first spell he took back to back two wickets of both the Australian openers David Warner and Hilton Cartwright. Commenting on his first spell the Indian swing sensation said, ”I planned ahead bowling to them. Yes I planned. First bowl I bowled I knew there is some swing on the wicket. Specially for Warner, generally I bowl outswingers to him in Tests also so I knew there is a good chance I can get him out. And for Cartwright it was normal, top of off-stump for him.”
David Warner and Bhuvneshwar Kumar both played for the same franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad during last few seasons. Both the players know their strengths and weaknesses. But Kumar had the last laugh today as he took the wicket of Warner at the Eden Gardens.
“I know where he lacks. He also knows where I am about to bowl, IPL is such a platform where everyone gets to know about everyone. You need to execute things on the ground. The one who will execute well will come out winner,” said Kumar.
On being asked about his evolution as a bowler, Bhuvi replied, ”When I started, I used to depend on conditions. Then I started improving as I played more international cricket. The more you play you know the areas you need to improve on. One year after I started playing, I knew I had to increase pace.”
“I had no clue how to do it. Then our trainer came Mr. (Shankar) Basu and he changed the training regime. Knowingly or unknowingly, my pace increased and with that my death bowling also improved.”
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been doing really well with his bat too since the Sri Lankan tour. While replying about his batting improvement, he said,” I haven’t tried anything differently. I have natural talent and I know I can bat. Specially when it comes to Tests I can continue. In ODIs, you have to hit at my position and I don’t have that ability. But in the last three-four matches, the situations I got myself in, 10-15 overs I batted and in Sri Lanka I got the confidence that I can contribute in ODI as well. My batting coach Sanjay Bangar has worked on my batting as well.”
The Aussie batsmen have totally failed to read the Indian spinners. Kumar lauded Chahal and Kuldeep for their brilliant bowling.
“Our bowlers are bowling too well maybe! They score off our spinners in the IPL so they can play spin. Our bowlers then are maybe bowling better and they cannot pick them,” concluded Kumar.