I Just Want To Focus On Getting Back Stronger: Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Mumbai: Team India pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who picked six wickets in four T20Is against South Africa, has said his only focus at the moment is getting back stronger both physically and with his bowling.

The fifth and final T20 match between India and South Africa at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru was called off due to rain. With this, the series remains at the 2-2 level and will be shared by both sides.

“Really proud. The body feels good, but I don’t want to talk about it too much. Just want to focus on getting stronger physically and with my bowling. Most of the time I bowl two at the top and two at the end,” said Bhuvneshwar after the match got abandoned.

He said, ‘As a senior, I also think about how to help the youth. I am fortunate that the captain has given me complete freedom to do whatever I want. I am so blessed in this way.’

Bhuvneshwar took 6 wickets in the series, four of which were during the second T20I match. He was also adjudged Player of the Series.

With Shreyas Iyer (0*) and Rishabh Pant (1*), India was 28/2 in 3.3 overs before being interrupted by rain. Opting to bat first, India got off to a bad start. Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad were returning after scoring 15 and 10 runs in the first four overs respectively.

Proteas bowler Lungi Ngidi dealt a big blow to the Men in Blue as he dismissed both the openers under the powerplay.

Notably, in the fourth match of the series, India beat the Proteas by 82 runs to level the series. Opting to bat first, India posted 169/6 in their 20 overs, largely driven by the efforts of Dinesh Karthik (55) and vice-captain Hardik Pandya (46). In response, the SA was reduced to just 87.

Avesh Khan was the star of the Men in Blue with 4/18 balls. India will now play against Ireland for a two-match T20I series in Dublin on June 26 and 28.

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