They Score Off Our Spinners In The IPL So They Can Play Spin: Bhuvneshwar Kumar Takes A Dig At Australia After Second ODI

India fast-bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar has dismissed suggestions that Australia are finding it tough to pick up the Indian spinners in the ongoing series. The world champions once again faltered with the bat and lost the second One-Day International on Thursday (September 21) by 50 runs.

The visitors had looked clueless in the first game at Chennai where Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav had picked up 5 wickets and the story remained same at the Eden Gardens too as the Indian spin duo sent back half of the team back to the pavilion. The struggle has raised questions on the ability of the Australian players to deal with the spinners but instead of criticising them, Bhuvneshwar Kumar credited his teammates for their performance.

“Our bowlers are bowling too well maybe. They score off our spinners in the IPL so they (Australia) can play spin. Our bowlers then are maybe bowling better here and they cannot pick them,” Bhuvneshwar said at the post-match press-conference.

With only 252 runs to defend against the world number two side, India had their task cut out with the ball and Bhuvneshwar gave them the perfect start by  dismissing Hilton Cartwright and David Warner with two absolute beauties to set the tone for India’s victory. Both the dismissals looked like a part of the plan and Bhuvneshwar admitted that there was a plan in place for the Australian openers.

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“Yes I planned. First bowl I bowled I knew there is some swing on the wicket,” Bhuvneshwar said. “Specially for Warner, generally I bowl outswingers to him in Tests also so I knew there is a good chance I can get him out. And for Cartwright, it was normal, top of off-stump for him.”

The Uttar Pradesh star, who returned with impressive figures of 3/9 in 6.1 overs, also spoke about his evolution as a fast-bowler.

“When I started, I used to depend on conditions. Then I started improving as I played more international cricket. The more you play you know the areas you need to improve on. One year after I started playing, I knew I had to increase pace,” he said.

“I had no clue how to do it. Then our trainer came Mr (Shankar) Basu and he changed the training regime. Knowingly or unknowingly, my pace increased and with that my death bowling also improved,” he added.

 

In addition to his impressive bowling, Bhuvneshwar has also impressed with his batting in the last few days. Last month, he had scored an unbeaten match-winning fifty against Sri Lanka and in the last game, scored a crucial 32.

Speaking about his batting, he said: “I haven’t tried anything differently. I have natural talent and I know I can bat. Specially when it comes to Tests, I can continue. In ODIs, you have to hit at my position and I don’t have that ability. But in the last three-four matches, the situations I got myself in, 10-15 overs I batted and in Sri Lanka I got the confidence that I can contribute in ODI as well. My batting coach Sanjay Bangar has worked on my batting as well.”

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