Bhuvneshwar on Dhoni’s batting position: The Indian fast bowler was vocal about Dhoni’s batting position and his own form.
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In the 10 overs which India fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled in the first ODI at Sydney, he counted for a couple of wicket but also conceded 66 runs. Known for his knack of not leaking too many runs, Bhuvneshwar leaked 40 runs in his last three overs (46th, 48th and 50th).
The 28-year old cricketer failed to pull off the yorker which saw the Australian batsmen hitting his length balls for boundaries in the slog overs. It is true that Bhuvneshwar picked up the crucial wickets of Aaron Finch (6) and Peter Handscomb (73) but India captain Virat Kohli would be wanting for Bhuvneshwar to bring down the economy rate.
Perhaps, it was the same reason why Bhuvneshwar was practicing bowling yorkers by keeping a shoe in front of the wickets during India’s net session today. Watch the video below:
Speaking to the media during the press conference, Bhuvneshwar explained the reason behind doing the same. “This [keeping shoes on the pitch] is something that I have been doing for some time. I didn’t practice that for almost a month now because in Tests, we hardly needed that. And I didn’t play a match.
“Going into an ODI or T20I series, you need that [yorker] thing. So, I was practising that. The skills needed are totally different [with new and old balls]. You are trying to swing the new-ball and take wickets. With the old ball, you are looking to bowl yorkers or slower balls. But they are both difficult,” Bhuvneshwar was quoted as saying.
[yuzo_related]
Before the first ODI, Bhuvneshwar had played a match during the T20I series against Australia. With that happening more than a month and a half ago, the pacer admitted that he didn’t find his rhythm first up at Sydney.
“It [not playing a match] did impact [my rhythm]. Match rhythm is totally different when it comes to bowling. I was trying everything to be in rhythm in the nets. But it can’t be a 100 per cent when you compare to a match [situation]. It wasn’t great in the last match but it wasn’t bad as well. It can improve, as the matches will go on,” he added.
Bhuvneshwar also didn’t hesitate from admitting the fact that he wasn’t his 100% during the Test series. “See, I was fit but I couldn’t say that I was a 100 per cent. Because in Test matches, it’s a five-day game, so I really didn’t know I would be able to go through that thing. What was good was we had bowlers who could play at that time and I got time to be 100 per cent fit again. I wasn’t really sure that time,” he further added.
After former India captain and current wicket-keeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni scored 51 (96) in the first ODI, vice-captain Rohit Sharma expressed his opinion about Dhoni’s batting position in ODIs. Being asked about the same, Bhuvneshwar didn’t consider him to be the right person to answer it.
“It doesn’t matter where I want him [Dhoni] to bat. It’s what the management wants that matters the most. But as far as he is concerned, he can bat anywhere from 1-10. He has been doing it for the last few years. He’s been doing it pretty well,” he concluded.
