Team India speedster Bhuvneshwar Kumar has backed the new captain Rishabh Pant, saying that he was let down by the bowling attack in the high-scoring first T20I against South Africa.
Follow Us
Team India speedster Bhuvneshwar Kumar has backed the new captain Rishabh Pant, saying that he was let down by the bowling attack in the high-scoring first T20I against South Africa. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has also said that Pant is a young captain who will try to do well and improve with experience as well. Notably, Pant was named captain after designated skipper KL Rahul was ruled out on the eve of the series opener after a groin injury and Pant had a forgettable match while leading the side for the first time ever, where his bowlers struggled with their line and length and failed to defend over a total of 200.
“He’s a young captain and it was his first match. I’m sure he will try to do better and improve as the series progresses. Generally, the captain is as good as the team and it’s a team effort. Our bowling did not go off well and let him down. If we did well, then you would have hailed his decision-making skills. I’m sure he will do well,” Bhuvenshwar Kumar said.
The experienced pace bowler, however, refused to pay much attention to their forgettable bowling display at the Ferozshah Kotla and shared his optimism about a strong comeback in the second match which is all set to take place at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Sunday (June 12). However, Kumar is leading the Indian pace attack in the ongoing five-match series in the absence of two other veteran seamers – Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami. Notably, India failed to restrict the South African duo of David Miller and Rassie van der Dussen who struck half-centuries to reach the target with five balls to spare and go 1-0 up in the series as well.
“There wasn’t any big discussion as anyone can have an off day. As a bowling unit, we had an off day but that’s okay we just want to come back in the next match,” Bhuvneshwar Kumar again said at the pre-match press conference here. “It was the first match of the series and everybody was coming out of the IPL, almost everyone in the team had a good IPL. Everyone knows what needs to be done and things to improve on. We are aware that we didn’t bowl well in the first match. So we hope to improve, bowl well and level the series. We still have four matches to go, we have matches in hands to bounce back.”
However, in the first game, Team India played with a new-look pace attack in Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel and Avesh Khan, but none of them could make an impact against the strong South African team. Bhuvneshwar Kumar also said that it’s about taking responsibility and improving in every game prior to the T20 World Cup, which is slated to be held in Australia in October-November as well.
“My target is not any different. I just have to bowl in the same way as in the power play or in the death overs. Yes, in absence of them, I try to take up responsibility, and focus on improving in every match before going to the T20 World Cup,” Bhuvneshwar Kumar concluded.
