Veteran India speedster Bhuvneshwar Kumar admitted that the final result was not on his mind when he came to bowl the final over. They needed to defend 12 runs in the final over against Rajasthan Royals on Thursday (May 2). SRH, who were put under pressure in the run chase, managed to turn the table around to clinch a thrilling one-run win in Hyderabad as well.
“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.”
With Rovman Powell facing most of that final over, Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s task was indeed difficult, as SRH was forced to bring in an extra fielder due to a slow over rate as well. With two runs needed off the final ball, Kumar bowled a low full toss that was missed by the batter completely and he was trapped lbw.
“I knew if I could bowl just two good balls, and if it went to the last ball, anything could happen,” he said. “It was a full toss, I know, but he missed it. 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.”
However, Bhuvneshwar Kumar also made headlines with the new ball as he removed both Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson for ducks as well.
“It was the first match the ball swung so much,” he added. “I can’t really pinpoint where the ball swung last, but the way it swung I literally enjoyed it. When it swings, you are always on top of the game, you try to take wickets and luckily, I got wickets.”
Meanwhile, RR batter Riyan Parag denied suggestions that some of the batters, including himself, threw their wickets away while comfortably heading towards another win as well. Parag and Yashasvi Jaiswal added 134 for the third wicket before getting dismissed.
“I don’t think any one of us threw our wickets,” he added. “Jaiswal tried that scoop because Natarajan was bowling good slow bouncers and hence he predicted a yorker and went with that shot. I tried to muscle it for a six, probably an error in execution but I don’t really think we threw our wickets. It would have been nice to stay till the end, it was the plan for both of us.”
“I was pretty confident but you have to give credit to how they bowled. It’s their home ground, they bowled like they knew how the wicket was playing. You got to give credit to Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Natarajan and Cummins. Cummins especially bowling that 19th over, going for 8 runs or something like that, they bowled better than us in the slog overs,” he concluded. “Last year I wasn’t even in contention to play the IPL,” he admitted. “Now I’ve heard a few rumours, I’m not on social media anymore, I’ve heard a few noises here and there. I’m glad they are taking my name for the right reasons now. I wasn’t really thinking about anything. I’m really really happy for the boys in our team, Sanju bhaiyya (Sanju Samson) especially getting the call-up. It is going to be great for our country and we can hopefully bring the World Cup home.”
