Steve Smith hails Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar as best death-over bowlers

Steve Smith, the Australian cricket team skipper, has acknowledged that India’s death bowling was the key difference in Australia’s five-wicket loss to Virat Kohli’s side in the third ODI at the Holkar Stadium.

Smith said that the way Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar executed their skills in the death overs dented Australia badly. “India executed their death bowling well. Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are the best death bowlers going around. First 38 overs, we were very good with the bat but we could not execute our plans towards the end,’ Smith said.

Australia was in a great position at 234/2. Aaron Finch, making a comeback into the side after missing the first two ODIs, had blasted his eighth century and his 152-run stand with Smith, who chipped in with 63, had given Australia the ideal platform.However, Finch and Smith both fell to Kuldeep Yadav and that gave India the opening. Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah bowled with great accuracy and used variations as India gave away just 59 runs. In that period, Australia managed only two fours and a six.