Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s experienced seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar feels that bowlers need to adopt a defensive, tactical attitude even when the ball swings in the Powerplay because current T20 hitters are always attacking.
In their IPL match in Delhi on Monday, Bhuvneshwar recorded amazing figures of 3/5 and, along with Josh Hazlewood (4/12), wreaked havoc on a bouncy, swinging Kotla pitch to bundle out Delhi Capitals for a pitiful 75.
RCB overhauled the target in 6.3 overs with 9 wickets in hand.
“The biggest change is that batters no longer hold back, even when the ball is swinging in the Powerplay. Earlier, there was more respect for conditions, but now the approach is consistently aggressive.
“That’s where the mindset shift for bowlers becomes important, being defensive isn’t negative, it’s about bowling to a plan and targeting weaknesses,” Bhuvneshwar told JioHotstar.
A seamer’s tendency to become aggressive when he perceives a little help from the surface was noted by Bhuvneshwar, who is no longer a member of the Indian squad.
“On flat wickets with no assistance, the approach becomes more defensive, not in a negative way, but with the focus on controlling runs and avoiding boundaries, especially against aggressive batters. But when there is some help in the air, the mindset shifts towards being aggressive and looking for wickets,” he said.
“Even if you get a bit of luck with edges or movement, the intent is to keep attacking and create opportunities rather than just containing.”
Bhuvneshwar noted that the key to his and Hazlewood’s outstanding performance was to concentrate on the little things.
“A lot of it comes down to preparation and understanding situations. The planning, even down to small details, plays a big role, and having experienced players like Josh Hazlewood helps, because that communication on the field becomes crucial in adapting to conditions.”
Bhuvneshwar, who is regarded as a swing bowling maestro, credited red-ball cricket for his achievements.
“While conditions and the ball do play a role, the basics remain the most important, wrist position, alignment, and control over line and length. For me, playing a lot of red-ball cricket has really helped in mastering those aspects.
“It allows you to repeat your action and maintain consistency. When the ball does swing, it becomes a major advantage for bowlers, and that’s when you look to exploit it as much as possible,” he said.
