When given the challenging assignment of defending 12 runs in the last over against Rajasthan Royals on Thursday (May 2), seasoned India seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar acknowledged that the end outcome was not on his mind. In Hyderabad, SRH, who were under pressure during the run chase, turned the tide to win by a dramatic one run.
“I told everyone process is very important,” Bhuveshwar said after the game. “I was literally thoughtless; I was not thinking about the result. I was just trying to do what I can do.”
It was a tough job for Bhuvneshwar, especially because SRH had to put in an additional fielder because of a slow over rate, while Rovman Powell faced strike for the most of that last over. When the seamer delivered a low full toss with two runs required off the last ball, the batter missed it entirely and was trapped lbw. “If it went to the last ball, anything could happen, and I knew if I could bowl just two good balls,” he remarked. “He missed it, even though I know it was a full toss.
“I was not thinking about the one extra fielder up, or whatever the restriction was there, I was so detached from the result. I wasn’t thinking about where the fielder is, where he is going to hit, where I’m gonna bowl, I was so focused on the process, that was the only thing I was doing.”
The Royals were put on the back foot early in the game by Bhuvneshwar’s new ball discussion. Like in his prime, the 34-year-old got the ball to swing, eliminating Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson for ducks. “The ball swung so much in that match,” he said. “The way the ball swung, I literally relished it, even though I can’t quite place where it swung last. You strive to take wickets and, fortunately, I did, when it swings.
Meanwhile, with his team easily headed for another victory at one point, RR’s batting all-rounder Riyan Parag refuted claims that some of the batsmen, including himself, threw away their wickets. Before being out, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Parag had added 134 for the third wicket and were coasting. “I don’t think any one of us through our wickets,” he said. “Jaiswal anticipated a yorker and proceeded with that shot because Natarajan was bowling excellent slow bouncers. Probably a mistake in execution, but I don’t really think we threw our wickets. I attempted to muscle it for a six. Staying to the very end would have been ideal; that was our aim.
Parag also acknowledged that, in the slog overs, the home side bowled far better than the Royals. Though the Royals only needed 21 runs from 17, Pat Cummins, T Natarajan, and Bhuvneshwar all delivered in unison. “You have to give credit to how they bowled, even though I was pretty confident,” he remarked. They bowled like they knew how the wicket was playing on their own stadium. You must credit Natarajan, Cummins, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Cummins in particular bowled better than us in the slog overs, going for eight runs or something similar in the 19th over.”
After suffering through a terrible run last year in which he played just seven games, Parag himself has been in excellent form this season. Though many were vying for a place in the national team for the impending T20 World Cup, the youngster was sensible enough. “I wasn’t even in contention to play the IPL last year,” he said. I no longer use social media, although I have heard a few rumors and occasionally heard noises. That they are using my name now for the proper purposes makes me happy. I was hardly giving it any thought. Especially Sanju bhaiyya (Sanju Samson), who was called up, I’m ecstatic for the guys on our squad. We can maybe bring the World Cup home, and it will be fantastic for our nation.”
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