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Not playing a single international match for a considerable amount of time can impact any bowler's match rhythm and pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar learnt it the hard way after being hit for 66 runs in the first ODI against Australia in Sydney on Saturday, 12 January 2019.
Bhuvneshwar, who was a part of the Test squad, wasn't picked in the playing XI during the four-match series and did look rusty during the slog overs of the opening ODI.
Asked if being out of competitive cricket for a month have an impact, he replied: "It (not playing regularly) did impact (my rhythm). Match rhythm is totally different when it comes to bowling. I was trying everything to be in rhythm in the nets.
During the past one month, Bhuvneshwar was training hard to get into match rhythm.
"But it was just normal bowling and increasing the number of overs. If I was bowling 4 overs (to start with), then go to 6, then 8, then 10. The key thing for me is to be niggle-free and be in bowling rhythm," the UP seamer said.
Bhuvneshwar revealed that he wasn't 100 percent fit during the series but currently is niggle free.
Bhuvneshwar claimed that he has been able to regain his usual pace and will be bowling at 130-135 kmph.
"I was going through niggles at that time (in England) and when you have a niggle you can't be a 100 per cent, so that was during that period. Since then and now, I have trained a lot, especially during the one month of the Test series. I trained a lot. That is the reason I am back to 130-135 (pace),” he said.
Kumar outlined that the team management is not worried about Ambati Rayudu's action being deemed suspect by the ICC.
He further added that there has been no talk about MS Dhoni moving up the order, albeit he spoke about buffering the lower-order with Ravindra Jadeja's role considered that of an all-rounder in Hardik Pandya's absence.
(With inputs from PTI)
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