Bumrah is widely regarded as the greatest all-format fast bowler of the modern era.
Speaking at a promotional event on Sunday (May 4), Bumrah dismissed any fear of facing batters while also emphasizing respecting the game and focusing on personal effort.
"I don’t really fear anyone. Of course, I do respect the game and every individual who plays it. But if I give the mental edge to the batter — that I’m scared of him, or that he’s better than me — then I’ve already lost the battle. So even if I’ve had a bad day, or if I’ve gone for runs, in my head and in my effort, nobody’s going to beat me. That’s what I’ve always learned to do. In cricket, you can’t control everything, and every day is not going to be your day. But if you do the processes right, believe in yourself, and give your absolute best, that’s what matters," Bumrah said.
"After that, whatever result comes your way, that was meant to be. So that's how I look at the game. I’ll give it my absolute best — and after that, I’ll accept the results," he added.
Bumrah also recalled a valuable piece of advice he received from the legendary Sachin Tendulkar on his IPL debut against RCB in 2013.
"It wasn’t any technical advice that comes to mind, but I’ve learned a lot from many players. When I came here, Sachin Tendulkar was still playing — it was his last year. Initially, when a 19-year-old enters this atmosphere and sees such legends of the game, the level of cricket is so high and so different from under-19 cricket. I was a little overwhelmed. But when I played my first game, before the match began, he told me: ‘Don’t look at the individual. Bowl to the batsman, not to the name,’" Bumrah stated.
"That helped me a lot. I know they’re big players with big reputations, but at the end of the day, on the field, there’s just one individual facing you. That advice has stayed with me. Whenever I play a game or feel pressure, I remind myself — the other person is also under pressure. Treat it like a normal game. Don’t get too overawed by the reputation or any other circumstance beyond your control," he remarked.
MI lose four of their first five matches in the ongoing IPL but they bounced back to register six victories in a row. They are currently placed second on the points table with 14 points from 11 outings and look poised for a spot in the playoffs.
Bumrah, who has claimed 11 wickets in seven matches that he has played this season so far, felt that MI had "peaked at the right time" and were not dependent on one individual to win games.
"We, as a team, started a bit slow. But ahead of the business end of the tournament, we’ve peaked at the right time. That’s a very good sign for us — we’re not dependent on one individual to win games. In every match, someone or the other has put their hand up and taken the team across the line. It’s a good start, and now that the business end has started, it’s going to get even more fierce. There are more exciting games ahead, and hopefully, better things will follow," he said.