New Zealand T20I:<\/b> India pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar said having no expectations from himself and focusing on the work at hand helped him navigate his four-year absence from international cricket, adding that his preparation never suffered despite being away from the national team.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Bhuvneshwar returned to the national setup after a four-year absence earlier this month when he was called up for the fifth T20I against the West Indies in Bengaluru as a replacement for injured Arshdeep Singh. However, the match got abandoned due to rain. He finally got to bowl in the 1st T20I against New Zealand.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Speaking in a video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the experienced pacer said the key to his approach over the last three to four years had been staying in the present rather than worrying about the future.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe headspace I am in is very simple. I have no expectations of myself. I think that\u2019s how things worked out for me in the last 3-4 years. No expectations; just keep doing your work. Generally, we talk about being present; we don\u2019t think about the future. I think that\u2019s the headspace I am in right now. And that has happened in the last 3-4 years,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 36-year-old said his time away from international cricket had brought maturity and that he had not spent the period actively chasing a comeback.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI know I didn\u2019t play for the country. But the things I did and the maturity that came in me as a person. I think that\u2019s what he taught me: just be in the present,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cFour years, I never chased this Indian jersey. So honestly, I didn\u2019t even know when those four years would come. I think it evolved big time, and I think IPL has a big role in that.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The pacer credited the Indian Premier League (IPL) and domestic cricket for keeping him connected to the game during his international absence. He said he had continued to prepare thoroughly for matches despite not knowing whether another India opportunity would come his way.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe last two IPLs were like when I went to IPL; there were zero expectations. I had zero expectations from myself either. But it wasn\u2019t like I didn\u2019t prepare. I did all the preparation needed to prepare. From fitness to skills and mental aspects, I did all that. But yes, there was zero expectation as to what I would do,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cOf course, I had to contribute for the team. But I never thought that I would go to IPL like this. That I would get two IPL titles in two years.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Bhuvneshwar believes the IPL has also helped him understand the changing demands of T20 cricket, in which batters have become more aggressive and high scores are increasingly common.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI know there is an impact player. But that impact player has opened up the batsman\u2019s mindset a lot. They go after the ball from the first ball,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cBut I have always believed that we take bowlers as victims. But they are not. I think being a bowler, you can control the game. You can want them to hit where we want. So I think it\u2019s just a perspective. What we have to do is being a bowler,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He added that the game had changed significantly in recent years, not just in franchise cricket but also at the international level.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201c100%. The game has evolved a lot in the last four years. Not just league cricket. Even international cricket. The way the score is being made. 200 is just a sparse score. When it becomes 200, I think there is something. But yes, it evolved big time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The experienced pacer also highlighted the challenges of playing overseas, particularly in SENA countries, where conditions can be difficult for both batters and bowlers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cNo, it\u2019s not a big deal. Because we are a young group. We have been playing for many years. But everyone else is young,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhen you come on an away tour, it\u2019s tough. The conditions are different. Generally, we come with expectations. That maybe we will get something from a fast bowler. But for the last four to five years, the way we have been seeing the white ball format, even on Mondays. There is not much support for bowlers,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He said conversations among bowlers generally centred on assessing conditions and identifying the best way to execute their plans.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhenever we talk, we talk about very basic things. What are the conditions? What can we do? But what I have realised is that T20 has become such a format where you need a lot of maturity as a bowler,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Bhuvneshwar added that winning overseas tournaments brings a special sense of satisfaction and could help build confidence across formats.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhenever we come on a tour, the biggest mindset is to win there. Especially when we come to SENA countries. It\u2019s not easy. Whether you are a bowler or a batsman, there are some challenges. And winning in such countries gives you a lot of satisfaction. That you came there, performed, contributed and won the tournament,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Reflecting on India\u2019s opening win in the New Zealand T20I series, he said a successful start could have a positive impact on the team\u2019s confidence for the remainder of the tour.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhenever we come on a tour, the biggest mindset is to win there. Especially when we come to SENA countries. It\u2019s not easy. Whether you are a bowler or a batsman, there are some challenges. And winning in such countries gives you a lot of satisfaction. That you came there, performed, contributed and won the tournament,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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