Pallekele: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who played a crucial role along with Mahendra Singh Dhoni in fashioning India’s win after a startling collapse in the second ODI here Thursday, said the former captain advised him to play as a Test batsman does.
Bhuvneshwar scored 53 and raised an unbeaten 100 runs partnership with Dhoni for the eighth wicket to guide India to a three-wicket win over the hosts.
“When I went in to bat, MS told me to play my natural game like I play in Tests and not to take any pressure as we had in hand a lot of overs. We knew if we played them out we would win easily,” Bhuvneshwar said at the post-match press conference.
“I knew there was nothing to lose in that situation as we were already seven down. I was just thinking of staying as long as I could in the middle and support MS. And that is exactly what I did,” added the UP player.
Sri Lankan spinner Akila Dananjaya took six wickets to trigger an Indian collapse. Bhuvi said he had a plan when he went out in the middle.
“He is an off-spinner but he was also bowling leg-spin and googlies so it was a surprise for us. I just wanted to keep out the deliveries that were turning into me. Those that were going away, I wasn’t worried,” informed Bhuvneshwar.
Meanwhile skipper Virat Kohli said he had no regrets about changing the middle-order, a decision which almost cost India the game.
“When you’re 110 for one in a chase of 230-plus, you want to give everyone a chance to bat. I don’t have any regrets. If I had come at No. 3, I would have still missed that ball because he (Akila Dananjaya) was bowling that well,” Kolhi asserted.
Press Trust of India