Published: Jul 03, 2016, 04:29 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 03, 2016, 04:29 PM (IST)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is part of the squad that will tour West Indies for a four-Test series. Over the last year or so, there were talks about the fact that he had lost a bit of swing. But in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL), Bhuvneshwar finished as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, helping Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to a win, which he says gave him a lot of confidence. “It [Winning the IPL] has given a lot of confidence. Winning the title did not give me confidence, but what gave me confidence was the way I bowled throughout the tournament. I was making a conscious effort to get back in the rhythm. Last match I played before that [IPL] was the Asia Cup match against Bangladesh,” Bhuvneshwar said. READ: Barinder Sran: Ashish Nehra, Bhuvneshwar Kumar taught me seam position
“I bowled well in that match as well. IPL was a tournament that could have dropped me down as well and if I did well, it could have taken me up. Confidence-wise, that was a crucial tournament for me,” he added in an open media session in Bengaluru on Saturday. READ: Mishra: India giving importance to batting skills of tailenders
He also went on to say that having the experience of Ashish Nehra on his side also helped. “He [Nehra] has given a lot of advices. More that talking about technical things, we have talked about having a game plan. We always talk about batsman’s weakness. When you talk to someone like him or experienced players like him those little things help a lot, when you play against those batsmen. For example [David] Warner. If Warner is batting and we are sitting together, we still talk about his areas, his weakness. Next time we play against him, I know that is his weakness. So, those little things help me a lot,” he said.
This is the first time Bhuvneshwar will tour West Indies and Bhuvneshwar and other fast bowlers are mastering the art of reverse swing, if there are surfaces, which offer very little bounce. “If you look at the wicket right now, the tri-series was going on. There is not much bounce. You cannot say that they will give the same wicket in the Test series as well. If they give the same wicket, reverse swing becomes very crucial. We are working on it. There are bouncy wickets, but not much swing compared to England or India. We know reverse swing can help us and that is something we are working on.” READ: Dhawan: IND batsmen preparing to counter reverse swing ahead of WI tour
With as many as five fast bowlers in the side, the competition for places within team India is surely going to heat up. But Bhuvneshwar is not to worried about making it to the playing XI at the moment. He said, The coach and captain decide [who will play]. I’m not really thinking about that. I know if I’m picked I will give my 100 percent. If I won’t be picked, I’ll be working on improving my game. That’s not an area I’m really concerned about.”
Coming back to Bhuvneshwar’s swing, he mentions the fact that he tried to increase his pace as one of the reasons for the loss of swing. While it was a bad patch for him, Bhuvneshwar still found a way to remain positive and get it back. READ: Saha: India will look to dominate West Indies in Test series
“I won’t say it was tough. I never thought it was a bad patch for me. Every time I played a series, I took it in a positive way, thinking how I can improve. That is because I was surrounded by my coaches, seniors, who always motivated me. They never said that you are not doing well or you’re not as good a bowler as you were. If you talk about the South Africa series, I gave 100 runs in that 10 overs. I bowled bad, but I was still thinking I can improve. People were saying I lost my swing at that time, but I did not agree. Later on when I watched the video, I found out why it is not swinging, but I didn’t agree with anyone that the swing is lost. That was a bad patch, but I won’t say it was tough,” said the 25-year-old.
“There were basic things, I cannot tell you. The wrist, the way I was running, I was not in a good alignment. Those were little things I was not doing to swing the ball,” Bhuvneshwar said, while he was asked about the reason as to why he lost his swing.
Bhuvneshwar goes on to say that everyone in the team is aware of their role in the team and has welcomed Anil Kumble’s appointment as head coach, saying that he has been positive. “I know my role in the team. It keeps changing according to the situation. Since Anil Kumble has come in, it has been very positive for each and everyone. He has played for India for many years, he knows how to handle the pressure, how to give players confidence and motivate them. It has been really positive for us.” READ: Murali Vijay: Looking forward to working with Anil Kumble
Bhuvneshwar also explains how having a bower as head coach changes the dynamics. “When your coach is a batsman, he talks more to a batsman. He talks to bowlers as well, but those practical inputs does not come. I’m not saying he cannot give feedback. When you have Anil Kunble as coach, who is a bowler, who has played for India for so many years, he can get more practical things from him more than a batsman. That’s one positive thing I take from him being the coach.”
Bhuvneshwar already has three Test fifties to his name and believes that he can contribute with the bat too low down the order.”I’ve always taken my batting seriously, when it comes to Test cricket. Even I T20s and one-day as well, but you don’t get many overs. I’m not a hard-hitter. But when it comes to Test cricket, I always take it seriously, I know I can contribute. Anil Kumble and Sanjay Bangar encourage me to bat and I know I can bat. Not just this camp, but when I practice back home, I take it seriously. I practice in such manner, I can contribute to the team,” he said.
