Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra hailed Bhuvneshwar Kumar after SRH’s thrilling one-run win against table-leaders Rajasthan Royals at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad on Thursday. The seasoned campaigner had to defend 13 runs in the final over against Rovman Powell and he got the job done for his team.
The equation boiled down to two runs needed off the final ball and Kumar was able to plumb the West Indies batter in front of the wickets. Kumar returned with impressive figures of 3-41 in his quota of four overs as he earlier accounted for Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson, who both were dismissed without opening their account.
“201 was a very decent total and then Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed Buttler in the first over and Sanju Samson right after that – two incredible deliveries. He now has 27 wickets in the first over of the powerplay – no one has taken more than him. However, somehow he is underrated,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
Chopra lauded the experienced seamer for his accurate bowling with the new ball as he got two crucial wickets.
“People talk about Trent Boult but no one talks about Bhuvi. Ok, let me say this – Death, taxes and Bhuvneshwar Kumar taking a wicket in the first over is permanent. He showed that by doing it,” the former India opener added.
Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal (67) and Riyan Parag (77) added 134 runs for the third wicket and RR was cruising at that stage. But Chopra noted there was a sudden twist in the game when these two were dismissed.
“It seemed like till the time Yashasvi and Riyan Parag were there, the match was going only in one direction, and that is going towards the team in pink. However, when Yashasvi and then Riyan Parag got out, there was a sudden twist in the match,” he said.
In the last five overs, RR could manage only 43 runs and lost four wickets and thus their batters could not add the finishing touches.
“The match was totally in Rajasthan’s grasp till the 15th or 16th over but Hyderabad didn’t concede defeat. Pat Cummins took wickets and T Natarajan picked up an important wicket, that was Shimron Hetmyer’s. It was total drama in the end. 20 runs were required in two overs,” Chopra stated.
Sunrisers Hyderabad will next take on Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Monday.
