We Wanted To Take It As Deep As Possible - Bhuvneshwar Kumar On Match-Winning Partnership With Deepak Chahar

An unbeaten 84-run stand between Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Deepak Chahar for the 8th wicket helped India chase down the target of 276 with 5 balls to spare in the second ODI against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

At one point, when India were 193-7, it seemed that the game was gone from the hands of the visitors and was heavily titled in favor of the hosts. However, the pace-bowling duo combined to take India home unscathed further.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, after the match, would reveal that their key aim was to play till the last over – which they did – and not overthink on the target. He also showered praise on Deepak Chahar for his “amazing” knock of 69 runs off 82 deliveries.

“Our aim was to play till the last over. We want to take it as deep as possible so we can score runs. There was not much planning, the only plan we had is to play till the last. The way Deepak batted was amazing,” Bhuvneshwar Kumar said in the post-match conference.

This is the kind of innings I’ve been dreaming of: Deepak Chahar

Deepak Chahar, who had also taken 2 wickets earlier in the day and bagged the Man of the Match award later for his brilliant all-rounder show, said that he often dreamt of playing such a knock where he bales the side out and wins the match.

The Chennai Super Kings pacer also acknowledged the confidence and belief coach Rahul Dravid had shown in his batting and stuck to his advice.

“Only one thing that was going on in my mind: this is the kind of innings I’ve been dreaming of. No better way to win the match for the country. Rahul sir told me to play all the balls. I’ve played a few innings with India A and I think he has belief in me. He told me he thinks I’m good enough to be a No. 7. He has belief in me. Hopefully in the coming matches I don’t have to bat. When we came under 50 is when I believed we can win. Before that it was ball by ball. I took some risks after,” Deepak Chahar said.

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