Heading to the West Indies under the guidance of new head coach Anil Kumble, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has found his groove at the right time.
Heading to the West Indies under the guidance of new head coach Anil Kumble, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has found his groove at the right time.
Having been under the scanner over the past year and almost losing his swing for a while, the Meerut bowler has bounced straight back into the game with a spectacular show in the recently concluded Indian Premier League.
Taking the honours for being the top wicket-taker in the IPL, the 26-year-old heads into the series with his confidence say high.
“My confidence level is very high after how I performed in this IPL. It’s not just about the wickets I have taken, but also about how I bowled. I managed to execute whatever I wanted to,” said Bhuvneshwar.
“Yes, T20s and Tests are different formats but I can take the confidence to the Test matches. The way I am preparing in the camp, the way I am bowling, I am feeling very confident about myself doing well in Tests.”
With as many as five bowlers to pick from, the lanky bowler is well aware of the competition to grab a spot in the playing XI, saying, “Competition for slots is a healthy atmosphere for the team. If you look at our bowling, there are variations – there are bowlers who can swing the ball, there are bowlers who can bowl at 150 kph, there are bowlers who are and extract help from the wicket.
“It’s a healthy competition. But we are all aware that depending upon the wicket the captain and coach will decide the team combination.
“If you look at this camp, everyone is helping the other. The preparation is in such fashion that we all believe that each one has a chance to play. But irrespective of who gets to play, the team atmosphere will remain the same — a positive one which we have been witnessing from the last few years.”
Speaking on the effect Kumble has had on the team, a smiling Bhuvi added, “He has been a positive influence on the team since his first meeting with us to the day. He has been constantly motivating us. We were all excited with someone of his stature joining us; he has played so much for India, achieved so much and whatever he has said so far, he has had a positive impact on all of us.
“He understands how to motivate players at this level; if someone is going through bad patch, he knows how to keep his spirits up.”
