BGT 2024: WATCH – “Makes it a little easier for me…,” Rohit Sharma shares experience of captaining Jasprit Bumrah

Rohit highlighted Bumrah's clarity of thoughts and confidence in his abilities.

By Salman Anjum - 25 Dec, 2024

Jasprit Bumrah has been the star performer for India in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. While the right-arm quick claimed a match haul of eight wickets in the Perth Test win, he returned with four scalps in the pink-ball Test loss at the Adelaide Oval.

Bumrah also proved his worth in the rain-marred third Test at the Gabba, picking up nine wickets in the match, which ended in a draw.

On the eve of the Boxing Day Test, India skipper Rohit Sharma addressed a press conference in Melbourne, where he emphasized that Bumrah requires no interference due to his clarity and confidence in his abilities.

"The easiest way of handling Bumrah is to not say anything. He knows what he is doing and how he operates. He doesn't try to complicate things and keeps it nice and simple and believes in his skill set and there's not much discussion that we need to have with him. I've been watching him for a long time and I've captained him for a long time. I know how he thinks, what he's trying to do," Rohit told reporters.

"Whether he gets wickets or not, he is very clear in his mind. Conversations I have had with him during games has made me realise the guy knows what he is doing so there is nothing much I can add there," he added.

After his stunning exploits in Brisbane, Bumrah became the most successful Indian bowler in Australia, with 53 wickets in 10 Tests at an average of 17.15, going past Kapil Dev's tally of 51 scalps in 11 matches.

Rohit went on to say that when Bumrah bowls, it is simpler for him to avoid thinking too much. "It makes it a little easier for me not to think too much while he's bowling. Only because he's so clear in his mind whether he gets wickets or he doesn't. He's so confident with his skill set that the conversations that happen during the game give me that confidence that I know what the guy is trying to do so there's nothing much that I can add there," he remarked.

The Indian captain further highlighted Bumrah’s impact on the team, saying that it eases the workload of other bowlers.

"It's very simple with him and it's always nice to have somebody like him in your team when he's at that form. The job of the other bowlers also becomes a little easier. All they need to do is maintain that pressure. When it comes to him, it's crystal clear ideas and plain and simple thoughts. It makes it very easy for me. It's nice to see that a lot of people from the opposition camp talk about him, how we need to handle him. Usually those are the discussions that happen everywhere. Like I said, the impact he's had on the series so far is massive. I hope he continues to do that because these two games are very important for us," Rohit stated.

With the BGT currently tied at 1-1, all eyes will be on Jasprit Bumrah whether the Indian pace spearhead produces brilliance again to script India’s another historic Test series win Down Under.

By Salman Anjum - 25 Dec, 2024

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