Bhuvneshwar acknowledged that the final over was not on his mind


Veteran Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar revealed that he was detached from the final outcome when he was handed a strenuous challenge of defending 12 runs in the 20th over against Rajasthan on Thursday (May 2). HYD, who were put under tremendous pressure in the run chase, managed to turn the tables to secure a thrilling one-run win in Hyderabad.

“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 West Indies T20 skipper Rovman Powell facing strike for the majority of that final over, Bhuvneshwar had a tough job on his hands particularly with HYD forced to bring in an extra fielder due to slow over rate. With two runs required off the final ball, the 34 year old bowled a low full toss that the batter missed completely as he got leg before wicket. "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."

Bhuvneshwar also showed his prowess with the new ball, picking up the key wickets of Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson in the very first over. He got the ball to swing like he used to do in his prime.  "It was the first match the ball swung so much," he pointed out. "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, RAJ’s batting all rounder Riyan Parag shrugged off suggestions that some batters, including himself, gifted their wickets especially with his side comfortably cruising to victory at one stage. Parag and Jaiswal put up a 134 run stand for the third wicket before the latter was cleaned up by T.Natrajan. "I don't think any one of us threw our wickets," he noted. "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."

Parag also disclosed that the home side bowled relatively better in the slog overs compared to the visitors. In spite of only requiring 21 runs from 17 balls, Rajasthan lost their way as Pat Cummins, T.Natrajan and Bhuvneshwar bowled superbly in unison. "I was pretty confident but you have to give credit to how they bowled," he said. "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."

Parag himself has been in supreme touch this season after going through a torrid run last year where he made only seven appearances. While his name was brought up for a spot in the forthcoming T20 World Cup, the youngster was very composed and practical during his response when asked about the World Cup “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."