The way I'm bowling at the death, it's all thanks to the IPL: Bhuvneshwar Kumar

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Bhuvneshwar Kumar
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India’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowls in nets during a training session. (Photo by PRAKASH SINGH/AFP/Getty Images)

Team India medium-pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar who made a comeback in the playing XI at Cuttack has credited Indian Premier League for his transformation as a bowler. Bhuvi has been terrific especially in the death overs which has proved a lethal weapon for his franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad. Bhuvi also said that his team will be under no pressure whatsoever going into the final ODI at the Eden Gardens and their aim will be to make a clean sweep in Kolkata.

“The way I’m bowling at the death, it’s all thanks to the IPL. A lot of bowling in the death in the IPL has added to my experience and given me the mindset. Keeping that in mind, I thought whatever I’ve done there I will do it here. It has paid for me,” Bhuvneshwar was quoted as saying by the Times of India on Saturday.

Bhuvi was the leading wicket-taker for his franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2016 IPL and his 23 wickets in 17 matches were pivotal in giving Sunrisers their maiden IPL title. “As soon as I was picked I was already playing for the country. They were heavily dependent on me to bowl in the death,” Bhuvi added.

The 26 year made a big difference in the 2nd ODI in Cuttack when all other bowlers were going hammers and tongs in a bid to chase down 382. Bhuvi was brilliant both with the new ball and the old ball and provided the Men in Blue with the much-needed stability in the bowling department. He is expected to be a lethal weapon in England when India goes for their title defence in July.

Also read: MS Dhoni leads Team India in absence of Virat in the optional training session

He stemmed the run flow during the later stages of the innings when Moeen Ali and Eoin Morgan was going great guns. The intelligent bowler eventually dismissed Moeen Ali and finished with figures of 1/63 in his allotted 10 overs. Though he went over 6 runs per over but considering the context of the game it was a superb spell by the champion bowler.

Recalling his final spell in Cuttack which proved vital in giving India an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, Bhuvi said, “I knew I had five overs left. I knew it can swing either ways. I had experience how to bowl thanks to IPL. There was pressure, dew was there. But the moment I bowled the first over (42nd), I got my confidence back. You need an over to get your confidence going. It was an over that boosted my confidence,” he added.

He also conceded that bowling with the red cherry has helped him bowl under heavy dew. “It’s most difficult to bowl with wet ball. Before that match we were practising with red ball.” Bhuvi was confident that India will express themselves in the final ODI with the series already pocketed in their favour. “Pressure is over. No pressure now, having won series but you want to win in each and every match. You will enjoy this more than the last two games, knowing that we have won the series,” he added.

Both the matches in Pune and Cuttack have been run fests and Bhuvi said that they have become used to such gigantic scores on a consistent basis. “We now know that 350 is a normal… a par score in ODI cricket. That’s how we plan our practice. You know you’ve to bowl fast. It’s difficult as we’re coming from an era where 250-plus was a par score. But it’s not safe anymore. It’s not easy to bowl as a bowler especially at the death overs,” he said.

Also read: Yuvraj’s inclusion was a collective decision by the selection committee: MSK Prasad

Speaking on his comeback in the limited overs circuit after almost a year, Bhuvneshwar concluded, “It’s tough when you’re playing after a long time. There is nervousness but it’s not because of lack of preparation. Preparation goes on even when you’re out of the team as you can do it anywhere. I was putting my best at the nets, as best as I can.”

 

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