Watch: Anil Kumble turns into a left-arm bowler to help Pujara counter Steve O’Keefe

Current India coach and former leg-spinner Anil Kumble was seen bowling left-arm spin in the nets to help Chateshwar Pujara overcome the challenges posed by Steve O’Keefe in the ongoing Test series against Australia.

Pujara, who fell to O’Keefe and Mitchell Starc in the Pune Test, struck a gritty 92 in the second innings to set up a series-levelling win for India in Bengaluru. Following the Pune debacle, he worked hard on his game and got the help of Kumble and fielding coach R Sridhar. O’Keefe proved to be unplayable in Pune, ending with career-best figures of 12 for 70.

“As they have a left-arm spinner, Anil bhai was trying to replicate that, coming from corner of the crease and angling into the right hander and try to spin it from there,” Pujara told ‘bcci.tv’ ahead of the third Test beginning here March 16.

“So I was just trying to get used to that angle as well. Sridhar was coming in from over the stumps, banging in short and just taking the ball away.

Pujara further said that even though Kumble’s expertise is right-arm bowling, he bowled left-arm decent enough for practice purpose.

“It was really useful especially Sridhar, he was really accurate. Anil tried his best even though he is a right-arm bowler but he tried bowling left-arm spin and still was decent enough for practice.”

What did Pujara do to tackle the threat of Starc, who now happens to be out of the India tour with a foot fracture?

“Basically getting used to the angle which Starc uses when he comes over the wicket, he tries to take the ball away from the batsman.

“I was just-just trying to work on it, getting used to the angle especially when the ball moves away. Just wanted to play close to the body and get used to the angle,” added Pujara.

Here is the video (via BCCI):