India’s veteran fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar recalled dismissing legendary Sachin Tendulkar in the 2008-9 Ranji Trophy final against Mumbai. Kumar was able to get the big wicket for Uttar Pradesh as the Master Blaster was dismissed for a 15-ball duck.
The swing master was brilliant for his state as he bagged six wickets in the match (including a five-wicket haul in the first innings) and also scored a total of 121 runs across two innings. But, his efforts went in vain as Mohammad Kaif’s team suffered a huge loss of 243 runs.
“It was the 2008-09 season when I got the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar. That changed a lot of things. It was the Ranji Trophy final and it was my second season. It was a big moment for me to get him out and it is difficult to explain it. It was an inside edge and the fielder was slightly behind short-leg. It is not a written position in the book but the fielder just happened to be there and the ball went into his hands. It was in my luck and it happened,” Bhuvneshwar Kumar said (via YouTube channel ‘Royal Challengers Bengaluru’).
On the other hand, Kumar gave credit to former Indian captain Virat Kohli for transforming India’s Test team.
“The way Virat captained in Tests, I will give him the credit for the transformation. We all know he is aggressive on the field and in Test cricket you need that nature because the match happens for 5 days. Many times wickets are flat and nothing is happening. Virat had the hunger that we don’t have to just go through the motion, we have to do something. We have to create chances. That passion rubbed on everyone and everyone came on same page that we have to do something to win matches,” he said.
Kumar has scalped 12 wickets in 10 matches for RCB in the ongoing IPL 2025 and has played a key role in the team’s success.
