ENG v IND 2021: We are "happy bunch", not always trying to "find needles" in everything – Jasprit Bumrah

Bumrah played a key role with the ball in India's emphatic victory at the Oval.

By Salman Anjum - 07 Sep, 2021

Jasprit Bumrah played a key role with the ball as India registered a thumping 157-run victory over England in the fourth Test at the Oval on Monday (September 6).

Chasing 368 in the fourth innings, the hosts were 77/0 at stumps on Day 4 and lost only two wickets in the first session on Day 5. But Indian bowlers turned things around in the post-lunch session to bowl England out for 210.

Speaking after the game, Bumrah said Team India’s success lies in the fact that it is a "happy bunch" that lives in 'present' and doesn't focus on negatives.

WATCH – Bumrah cleans up Ollie Pope and Jonny Bairstow with two brutal deliveries

His comments came when he was asked if the news of head coach Ravi Shastri and other support staff members testing COVID-19 positive in the middle of the Test match affected them in any way.

"We focus on the good things. We want to focus on controllable things and we as a team are bunch of individuals who are very happy and fun-loving people, not always trying to find needles in all the things," Bumrah said during the virtual press conference.

The right-arm pacer cleaned up Ollie Pope (2) and Jonny Bairstow (0) with two brutal deliveries to leave England reeling at 146/5. Pope’s wicket was his 100th scalp in the longest format and it came in his 24th Test appearances.

Bumrah said the team completely shut the outside noise after being dismissed for a paltry 191 in the first innings on Day 1.

"Yes, the wicket was fresh and we didn't score much in the first innings. But we didn't lose shape as a team and didn't think about lot of things that are said and lot of things that are written.

"We wanted to fight till the end and that's the character we wanted to show and things that are going outside is something that we wanted to address later."

In the second innings, Jasprit Bumrah returned with the figures of 2 for 27 in his 22 overs on a flat deck.

Reflecting on his performance, the speedster said: "In Test cricket, nothing is easy. Even though it was a very good wicket, you have to bowl in right areas and that's the message you want to communicate. We had decided, even if wicket is on flatter side, we have to create pressure for the longest time.

"We created a lot of pressure in the first hour and we realised that it was a flat wicket and but our job was to not let the game slip away and we are happy to do that."

The second half of IPL 2021 and the T20 World Cup are around the corner but Bumrah isn’t thinking far ahead and is focusing on immediate goals.

"When you play a Test match, you don't realise what has been done before or how many overs you have been able to bowl because right now the focus was on doing the job for the team," he said.

"I want to play longest time for my country so I work hard on gym, on my diet and everything I try to control. I train really well and I have got ammunition inside me and when I want to push, I can push hard.

"I am not thinking too far ahead about the IPL or World Cup because then mentally you can be tired. My focus is on the present, concentrating ball by ball and get results in our favour."

(With PTI inputs)

By Salman Anjum - 07 Sep, 2021

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