‘IT WILL BE VERY UNUSUAL TO PLAY BEHIND CLOSED DOORS’
Bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar shares how he stayed fit in the lockdown, says the focus is to return to the field
His line, length and delivery are as good as it could get and he’s one of the finest bowlers in the Indian cricket team today. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, aka Bhuvi, has tried hard to ensure it remains that way despite the lockdown. But the cricketer, who has been with his family in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, for the last four months, is also happy to have spent some time with them.
“It is a little unusual, because we don’t get to spend so much time at home. But I could be with my family, something cricketers usually don’t get to do owing to our match schedules. Yet, usually, when I used to come back home after a series, I would have a lot of free time, but in this lockdown kuch bhi free time nahi tha,” he laughs.
Kumar has been very determined to stay fit in the last four months. About his fitness regime, he says, “I have some gym equipment at home, and for a month or so, I have been going for a run to a nearby park...so that when I go back to the ground, I am at the same level as I was before the lockdown.”
The 30-year-old medium pacer, who tried cooking in the lockdown and “enjoyed it the most”, admits that at times, it was hard to motivate himself. “Initially, I was very motivated because I was looking at this lockdown as a time to improve myself.
After a few weeks, when I didn’t have enough equipment, it was hard to motivate myself. However, then the thought kicked in that ‘you are playing for your country and that you have to do things differently’. That thought itself motivates you,” he shares.
Cricket is more than just a sport for many in our country. And cricketers, including Kumar understand the value that fans hold in each game Team India plays. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the sport, for the first time in its history, is being played behind closed doors. Ask Kumar what he feels about it, and he says, “It will be unusual to play cricket behind closed doors. There is a different level of passion
BHUVNESHWAR KUMAR, CRICKETER when it comes to cricket in India. However, due to the current situation, everyone knows that playing cricket is more important right now. Obviously, there is a different level of motivation that you get when you play in front of fans, but now, everyone just wants to play cricket, doesn’t matter if it is behind closed doors or not.”
Kumar, who states that the whole team is one big family, says that they have all been in touch in some way or the other. “We have all been in touch through Whatsapp. We keep our group alive with some funny forwards or memes or even if someone finds something useful on social media.”