MS told me to play like a Test match: Bhuvneshwar

TIL Desk Sports/ Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who scored his maiden ODI half-century to help India win the second game against Sri Lanka, revealed that former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni told him not to take any pressure and play just like a Test match.

Kumar came out as India’s unlikely batting hero in the escape to victory against Sri Lanka at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Thursday. The 27-year-old struck an unbeaten 53 to rally India from 131/7, chasing 231 for victory in the second ODI to hand a nerve wracking three-wicket win over Sri Lanka to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

The right-arm pacer joined Dhoni (45*) after a sensational six-wicket haul by Sri Lankan spinner Akila Dananjaya, who snapped up six wickets in 20 deliveries, and left the visitors reeling.

“It was a bit surprising for me because we had a great opening start and all of a sudden, we collapsed. It was a panic situation for us. When I went into bat, Dhoni told me to play my natural game, ‘play as if you are playing a Test match.’ He told me not to take any pressure,” said Kumar in the post-match press conference.