Jasprit Bumrah played a critical role in India’s eight-wicket victory over Afghanistan in Match 9 of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Wednesday (October 11).
On a placid surface, the right-arm quick returned with the figures of 4 for 39 in his 10 overs, helping the hosts restrict Afghanistan to a below-par total of 272/8 in 50 overs.
Bumrah was also brilliant in India’s World Cup opener against Australia, taking two wickets for 35 runs in his 10 overs at Chepauk.
As the Men in Blue are set to face arch-rivals Pakistan in their next match, Bumrah is expected to deliver for the team once again.
The marquee clash is scheduled to take place on October 14 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which happens to be Bumrah’s home ground.
While there is a lot of buzz around the India versus Pakistan game, the star pacer has played down the hype, saying that he and his teammates will treat this fixture as any other in the tournament.
“See every team will have batsmen, every team will have bowlers. We also have batsmen; we also have bowlers. We’re not preparing any special for any special team,” Bumrah said while addressing the media after the Afghanistan match.
“Yes, we’re looking at ourselves more than the others because we’ve realized that if we focus on our team, we focus on our strengths everything else takes care of itself. So we are focusing on our team, our preparation. If everything that is there in our control, we control that, that gives us the best chance. So that is what our team is focusing on,” he added.
Bumrah also revealed that he will go home and meet his mother before taking on Pakistan in the World Cup.
“Yeah, obviously I’ve been away for a while now. I’ll be happy to see my mother at home. I’m going to see her. That’s the first basic thing for me,” he said. “It’s obviously playing at home. I have not played a one day international there. I played a test match. So yeah, the atmosphere is going to be exciting. I’m sure a lot of people are going to come. So, it will be a sight to see. So yeah, hoping for the best over there.”
Reflecting on his spell against Afghanistan, Bumrah said he opted for hard length as the pitch was a batting paradise.
“See obviously in this format you have to understand what is working. So, some days there would be some swings so your lengths would change. But this wicket was quite a batting track that we realised early on as well when we started bowling. There was a little bit of seam but the ball was coming on to the bat really well from the first over so we realised that. So, we are just trying to hit the hard length, try to make it as difficult as possible and try to make them hit difficult shots. So that was the plan and probably trying to do that,” he said.
“I am not result oriented. Just because I have taken four wickets, that doesn’t mean that I am very, very happy or I have done something extraordinary. I just go with my preparation. I go with the process that I feel is right. I try to read the wickets and try to find the best answers that work on that wicket.
“As simple as that, not thinking about the results because I’ve got results today. I’m very, very good, that doesn’t work in my book. I try to back my strengths, try to read the wicket, and try to give my best.”
(Firstpost Inputs)
