BHUVI CREDITS IPL FOR IMPROVEMENT
Kolkata, Jan. 21: India pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar on Saturday credited the Indian Premier League for his transformation as a death bowler and said the team would play without pressure as it aims for a clean sweep against England in the third and final ODI here on Sunday.
“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,” Bhuvenshwar said.
Bhuvneshwar (23 wickets from 17 matches) emerged as the leading wicket-taker in Sunrisers Hyderabad’s triumphant campaign in the 2016 IPL.
“As soon as I was picked I was already playing for country. They were heavily dependent on me to bowl in the death,” the Purple Cap holder of the IPL 2016 said.
Drafted into the side, the 26-year-old made the difference in a wayward Indian seam attack as he capped a brilliant opening spell with tight bowling in the death.
Back in the 42nd over with England needing 108 runs from 54 balls with a set Eoin Morgan and Moeen Ali in the middle, Bhuvenshwar Kumar stopped the free-flowing English batsmen and dismissed the latter for 55 in the 44th over before finishing his quota with 10-1-631.
Recalling his final spell in Cuttack, Bhuvneshwar 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 said.
He was also successful in bowling yorkers on a day the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya struggled to find the block hole with a wet ball. — PTI