Bhuvneshwar Kumar: There is something in the pitch

The 26-year-old pacer last played a Test for India in 2015 against Australia in Sydney, and he gave away 168 runs in 42 overs and picked just one wicket in the match. Apart from ODIs and T20s here and there, the swing bowler, who burst onto the scene in 2012, remained a bench-warmer for the Indian side in the past one and a half year. But, on Friday against West Indies, the 26-year-old showed what we missed in the past 18 months. In a breath-taking spell after lunch, the pacer put on an exhibition of swing bowling and plucked away one Windies batsmen after another to bowl out the home side for 225. In a spell of 8.3 overs, the Uttar Pradesh cricketer took five wickets to swing the match in India’s favour.

Speaking to the media after the play on day 4, Bhuvneshwar expressed happiness with his performance, and said that he used the swing to his advantage to take the wickets.

Biggest point was that the ball was swinging because when that happens it is a boost for me because I have more chances to take wickets."

“Biggest point was that the ball was swinging because when that happens it is a boost for me because I have more chances to take wickets. Especially after lunch, I could do that so you can say that break was something positive for me because I got a break and I had to bowl after that.

“So when you get one wicket you get the confidence that you can bowl further and when I was bowling it was the same in my mind that these are the 7-8 overs in which I can take wickets. I didn't think I would take five wickets but that comes with the momentum,” the 27-year-old said.

Unlike other pacers, the Uttar Pradesh cricketer is not known for showing emotions on the field, and Bhuvneshwar said that he tries to get the process right rather that getting distracted by other things.

“It has been my nature from beforehand itself. I don't get angry when someone drops a catch or (when) batsmen say something. From the beginning itself, it wasn't something I prepared for but this is something natural in me. You can say that my whole focus is to get the process right so I don't get distracted with these things,”

It is very difficult to say that tomorrow I will get swing again because if you see earlier in the first innings I didn't get as much swing."

India currently have a 256-run lead over the home side, and with just a day remaining in the match will find it difficult to register a victory at St. Lucia. But, having taken a five-for in the first innings, Bhuvneshwar believes that India have the capability to defeat the Windies, if the conditions remain the same.

“It is very difficult to say that tomorrow I will get swing again because if you see earlier in the first innings I didn't get as much swing, maybe the wicket was a bit damp. Today I got a lot of swing, maybe the ball was a good one. It is tough to say, so it is tough to predict for tomorrow, but there is something in the pitch for the bowlers so I think we can get them out again,” said the 27-year-old before concluding.