India pacer Jasprit Bumrah had a great outing in the opening Test against England at Trent Bridge, which ended in a draw on Sunday (August 8) due to incessant rain.
While Bumrah took four scalps in England’s first innings to bundle out the hosts for a paltry 183, he returned with a five-wicket haul in the second essay.
WATCH - Jasprit Bumrah features on Trent Bridge Honours Board for the second time
This performance is being perceived as a “comeback” for the Indian speedster, who looked out of touch in the WTC final against New Zealand and was also not effective in the two home Tests versus England earlier this year.
After the Nottingham Test, India opener KL Rahul addressed a press conference, wherein he expressed surprise at a question on Bumrah’s return to form.
“Sir, I don’t know why you are saying that (Jasprit) Bumrah has made a comeback,” Rahul said at the post-match media conference.
“Every time, in every game, in every condition he has proved himself and he is our number one bowler. We are happy that he is doing what he is (has) been doing since he started playing Test cricket.
“Wherever he has played, he has been a match-winner for us. We are happy that he has done once again, what he does best,” he added.
According to Rahul, pace unit’s 20-wicket effort was the major takeaway from the series opener.
“The way we bowled in the first innings and the discipline that we showed after losing the toss and bowling first (was a takeaway). It felt like team which won the toss had an advantage and we bowled with a lot of discipline.
“How Mohammad Shami and Bumrah started and how Shardul (Thakur) and Mohammed Siraj continued, how all of them worked together and bowled in the right channels. We saw there were a lot of misses but the way they stuck to their plans was great to see and they got the rewards,” he remarked.
Rahul was impressed to see the control that the Indian pace quartet displayed at Trent Bridge.
“Sometimes the bowlers can get carried away when lot is happening off the pitch and it says a lot about our bowling unit. There is a lot of experience in our bowling and they understand what exactly is expected of each one of them.
“Our pace bowling attack is the main reasons why we qualified for the WTC finals. Great to see that each time we go out there, we stick to what we have discussed and more often than not we have got results for being patient and disciplined.”
Speaking on his personal performance, Rahul said he was happy playing Test cricket after more than two years.
With Mayank Agarwal being ruled of the first Test after taking a blow on his helmet, Rahul was given an opportunity to open the innings and the right-hander registered scores of 84 and 26 across the two innings.
“From the last 2-3 series (away vs Australia and vs England in India), I have been sitting outside. The team was doing really well and I was very happy to be part of the team and seeing how we were beating teams in India and then Australia.
“So it was great to be part of it, but also very frustrating that opportunities weren’t coming. It was only practise, practise and practise and as a player you want to be in the middle and want to challenge yourself, so I kept waiting for my opportunity, so I am very happy that it came in England,” said Rahul.
“I was just looking forward to it and I am happy that opportunity came and in the first match and I gave a good contribution for the team.”
(With PTI inputs)
