Not playing an international match for a long time can affect any bowlers’ rhythm and star Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar learned it the hard way after he was smashed for 66 runs in the opening ODI match against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
Bhuvneshwar was included in the Indian squad for the recently concluded four-match Test series against Australia; however, the pace bowler wasn’t picked in the playing XI for any match.
When the 28-year-old was asked if being out of competitive cricket for a month had an impact on him, Bhuvneshwar replied, “It (not playing regularly) 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.”
The pacer added, “But it can’t be a 100 per cent when you compare to a match (situation). It wasn’t great in the last match (in Sydney) but it wasn’t bad as well. It can improve, as the matches will go on.”
Bhuvneshwar also explained he trained hard to get into match rhythm during past months.
“I was trying everything to be in rhythm. In the nets, I wasn’t planning or preparing to bowl in the ODIs. I was preparing like I have to play in any of the Tests. I was preparing in that manner. There wasn’t anything specific that I could do,” Bhuvneshwar said, before adding, “But it was just normal bowling and increasing the number of overs. If I was bowling 4 overs (to start with), then go to 6, then 8, then 10. The key thing for me is to be niggle-free and be in bowling rhythm.”
The UP pacer also disclosed that he wasn’t 100 per cent fit during the recently concluded Test series. However, he insisted that he is currently niggle-free.
“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,” Bhuvneshwar said.