India Vs New Zealand: Bhuvneshwar Kumar tells Jasprit Bumrah how use of knuckleballs is helping him

Pune, Oct 26: They were completely outclassed in every department in the previous game but their bowlers came back strongly to bring India back to winning ways in the second ODI in Pune.

Match scorecard; India-NZ series schedule

Team India defeated New Zealand by six wickets to level series and setting up a decider in Kanpur on October 29.

The foundation for Men In Blue's clinical win was laid by their bowlers, especially the pace battery of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah.

Both Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah got the early breakthroughs the hosts were looking for after Kiwis elected to bat. They shared 5-wickets amongst themselves and ensured the visitors were restricted to a paltry 230/9 after 50 overs.

The BCCI, later, uploaded a video chat between Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah in which the duo talked about the change of plans in the second ODI after the disappointing outing in the first ODI in Mumbai.

Bhuvneshwar, who was awarded the Man of the Match for his 3/45, revealed that he made a few adjustments to combat opener Colin Munro and it was the knuckleball that did the trick.

"In the last match he (Munro) went after us so I had a plan for him. I tried to bowl a few knuckleballs and then some bouncers to him," said Bhuvneshwar. It was a knuckleball that got Munroe out in the end.

Bhuvneshwar further revealed that he excelled the use of knuckleballs during the Test series against Australia earlier this year.

"I developed it just before the IPL during the Test matches. In India, the ball doesn't swing much and you have two fielders in catching (positions) so keeping that in mind I developed that thing. I didn't know that it would come handy in T20Is and ODIs," he said.

Bhuvneshwar also lauded the team's strong show in the must-win game and commended the character shown by the boys.

"It is a short series and when you are one down it is very difficult to come back, so (the win) shows the character of the team. As a bowling and batting unit, we did really well."

Bumrah, who is complementing the Meerut-based cricketer, admitted that he developed the slower ball and he couldn't be dependent on his yorkers all the time.

"You have to have more than one tricks to fool the batsmen. So I have been using it (the slower delivery) for quite a long time. I'll probably use it more in the matches to come," he said.

When asked about his key to success in the death overs, Bumrah said he tries to keep things as simple as possible.