A traditional swing bowler, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has evolved immensely as a cricketer in the past couple of years. For all those who were spectators to his batting against Sri Lanka, can vouch for his maturity as a player.
His extensive training regime has helped him pick up the extra pace in his bowling which has only proved lethal for all the oppositions. And it was another quality bowling performance on display during the 2nd ODI against New Zealand in Pune.
While Team India found itself in an unfamiliar situation after being one down in the series, a notched-up performance in Pune helped the team level the series 1-1.
Bhuvneshwar, with his precise bowling, picked up three crucial wickets and was declared the Man of the Match for the same.
Speaking to the media on the eve of the 3rd and final ODI against New Zealand, Bhuvneshwar credited the Bowling Coach, B Arun for his management and inputs.
“He is somebody who manages the bowlers really well. At this level you don’t want to get too much into the technique. He sometimes pinpoints certain things which can really improve your bowling. For example, I increased my pace but I lost my swing. I did not know how to go about it. So, he shared some fine points that helped me get my swing back. His role in the team is invaluable,” added Bhuvneshwar.
Talking about his personal form and evolution as a player, he said, “As a player I feel I have grown in the past couple of years. I have improved my pace without losing on the swing. That is something I am really happy about. In batting also, I have improved a bit.”
With the series equally poised at 1-1, it will be a decider at the Green Park Stadium on Sunday and the state lad feels that it will be a nice challenge for the team in this last match.
“We have not been challenged like this in a while and it is a short series. So, there was pressure in the last game that we could lose the series (having lost the first match). But, the way we came back shows the character of the team. Tomorrow’s match is also about handling pressure. We will try to play like we played the last game,” added Bhuvneshwar.
Asked about the approach in a three-match series compared to a longer one, Bhuvneshwar said, “It is a short series, but mental approach is the same as any other series. But as I said, we have not been challenged in a while at home, so everyone is looking forward to the challenge.”
Having played with the likes of Kane Williamson and Trent Boult for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, the bowler feels that it’s a positive as well as a negative.
“Last series I played against New Zealand, the planning was easy. It is the same for them also. Knowing them well and vice versa makes planning tougher. So, it is a positive as well as a negative,” he iterated.
