‘Batters think I'm slower’ – Bhuvneshwar Kumar gives hilarious response to query regarding Umran Malik

Umran Malik was at his lethal best on Sunday (April 17) as the Sunrisers Hyderabad speedster spitted venom and rattled the Punjab Kings’ batting line-up. He took a career-best 4/28 in the clash which includes a three-wicket maiden in the final over. His heroics took SRH to a comfortable seven-wicket triumph and the Orange Army has now won four matches on the trot in IPL 2022.

Meanwhile, it must be noted that Umran belongs to a rare breed of pacers, who can clock around 150 kmph consistently. As the 22-year-old was also spot-on with his line and length against PBKS, batters endured a hard time against him. Besides Umran, veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar also took a three-wicket haul as PBKS were bundled out for 151.

Speaking to the broadcasters after the match, Bhuvneshwar was asked how Umran’s thunderbolts have helped him as a bowler. The 32-year-old came up with a cheeky response, saying batters target him, thinking he is slower. “More than helping me, it means I am a target as batters think I’m slower,” said the veteran pacer on the question.

There was no swing so I looked to hit back of a length: Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Although Bhuvneshwar doesn’t have the sheer pace as Umran, he has tormented the best of batters with his swing and accurate bowling. Despite not getting much assistance from the pitch, the experienced fast bowler was brilliant against PBKS and was instrumental to SRH’s triumph.

“There was no swing so I looked (to) hit back of a length. That was my plan against Shikhar as I knew he would step out and look for the boundary. I looked to hit a hard length and find the top edge and luckily that’s what happened, I looked to play with my field as well,” said Bhuvneshwar.

The pacer also heaped praises on Umran, stating watching the young gun bowler in action is a joy. “I try to bowl to the batter’s weakness or to the ground’s dimensions. The wicket and my skills are what I look at. (On Umran) But watching him bowl fast and get wickets is a joy. Hope the others going after me leads to wickets and not boundaries (smiles),” added the SRH star.