IPL 2018 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar takes pride in Sunrisers Hyderabad’s “potent bowling attack”

In the last two editions of the Indian Premier League, as a team, the 2016 champions Sunrisers Hyderabad have always been reliant on its bowlers, apart from the start that Warner and Shikhar Dhawan gave them at the top. With the reliance they had at the top of the order, it became easier for the bowlers to believe that they could restrict the opposition on any given day. This season, however, that equation changed and the bowlers had to take more responsibility after Warner was not allowed to play in the IPL after Cricket Australia banned him for a year from all formats of cricket beyond grade level in the aftermath of ball-tampering incident in South Africa series.

However, leaving the episode behind, Sunrisers bowlers made quick adaptations, led by the formidable Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rashid Khan, and helped the team secure three wins from four matches they have played so far. And today, ahead of the match against, Chennai Super Kings, who have also secured three wins from four games, Kumar sent warning signs to the MS Dhoni-led team by stating that the team has a potent bowling line-up to take down any team.

“Yes, we are lucky to have such a potent attack. There was a lot of planning behind finalising the squad and we are fortunate to have got some of the best players in our ranks. Everyone is given a specific role on the field and each individual is aware of his responsibility. We have some of the best talents, be it bowler or batsman and we always give our best. It’s important to perform as a unit,’’ Bhuvneshwar told TOI.

When Sunrisers Hyderabad were dealt with the blow that their captain David Warner had being ruled out of the tournament in the wake of the ball-tampering saga, head coach Tom Moody didn't mince words and acknowledged what value Warner brought to the side. And Kumar while admitting that Warner was an immensely valuable player to the side, he stressed that the team had no control over the episode.

“Warner is a huge player and his presence would have made a difference for us. But we didn’t have any control on what had happened. We had to look for a replacement and we got Alex Hales. It wasn’t easy for us to win three out of four matches but we have proved that we have the right resources to win many more games in the coming days.”