Sunrisers Hyderabad’s fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar humorously remarked that T20 cricket is a delight for spectators but not so much for bowlers, following a closely contested 2-run victory over Punjab Kings in the IPL 2024 at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. With Punjab needing 29 runs in the final over to win, Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma nearly staged a remarkable comeback, scoring 26 runs and just missing the target by a whisker.
Bhuvneshwar, reflecting on the match’s high-pressure moments, including Jaydev Unadkat’s last-ball six in SRH’s innings that turned out to be crucial for the outcome, said, “That’s the charm of T20 cricket for fans, though not for us bowlers,” he said with a smile. “The pitch evolved in the last few overs, with both teams scoring freely. Securing the win feels great.”
Leading SRH’s pace attack, Bhuvneshwar clinched vital wickets, including that of PBKS skipper Shikhar Dhawan and Prabhsimran Singh. Across his spell, he delivered 13 dot balls and conceded 32 runs at an economy of 8.00. He shared insights into his bowling strategy, emphasizing consistency and simplicity, acknowledging that while batters might predict his moves, execution and a bit of fortune are key.
Ashutosh’s batting was particularly notable, stepping in when PBKS required 67 off 24 balls and, alongside Shashank, launching an assault on SRH’s bowlers. His efforts in the last over, hitting consecutive sixes, nearly shifted the game in PBKS’s favor, though it wasn’t quite enough to secure victory.
Bhuvneshwar praised Ashutosh’s performance, stating, “He batted exceptionally well. When you see someone bat with such belief, it’s commendable and promising for Indian cricket.”
SRH managed to post a challenging total, thanks to Nitish Reddy’s half-century and valuable contributions from Abdul Samad and Shahbaz Ahmed, despite early losses. In pursuit of 183, PBKS faced setbacks but a spirited partnership between Shashank (46* off 25) and Ashutosh (33* off 15) brought them on the brink of a win, only to fall short by two runs in a thrilling finale.
