Jasprit Bumrah recently gave a fitting, light-hearted response to Ravindra Jadeja after the latter playfully teased him about not acknowledging the contributions of other bowlers. This exchange occurred during the third Test against England at Lord's.
Bumrah, known for his fiery spells and match-winning performances, had just led the Indian team off the field after India bowled England out. Jadeja, in a jesting manner, nudged Bumrah, saying, "Hamein toh bol ki well bowled (Appreciate us too by saying 'well bowled')". Bumrah, with a smile, turned back to hug Jadeja and replied, "Main toh aapke liye hi bol raha that (I was saying it for you only)".
Bumrah's performance in the match was remarkable, as he dismantled England's middle and lower order with a five-wicket haul. His 5 for 74 helped India bowl out England for 387. This achievement earned him a place on the Lord's Honours Board. It was his 15th five-wicket haul in Test cricket, surpassing Kapil Dev's record of 12 five-fors outside India. This feat came shortly after he was rested at Edgbaston as part of workload management.
Earlier, Nitish Kumar Reddy had praised Bumrah's leadership on the field, stating that the other bowlers simply followed Bumrah's directions. However, Bumrah humorously downplayed this, saying that Reddy was lying and hadn't asked him anything. He clarified that he shares his experiences of playing with the younger players.
Bumrah has also addressed his workload management, especially in the context of the upcoming Test series against England. He revealed that he had declined captaincy consideration due to concerns about being able to play all five Test matches, emphasizing the importance of putting the team first. He communicated with the BCCI about his workload, especially with a five-Test match series in mind. He consulted with his back specialists and surgeon to make a smart decision about managing his workload. He felt it wouldn't be fair to the team if he had to miss matches due to workload, hence his decision to not take up the leadership role.
Bumrah's focus remains on his personal preparation and performance, regardless of external expectations. He stated that he doesn't dwell on what others say or expect from him, as that is beyond his control. He concentrates on ticking all the boxes in his preparation and giving his best effort. He also tries to stay away from social media to avoid being influenced by external thoughts and expectations. Bumrah emphasizes contributing as a team and taking responsibility collectively.
Bumrah's career has seen him achieve the No. 1 Test bowler ranking, with a career-best 908 points. In the past, bowlers have been seen imitating Bumrah's bowling action, which shows the impact that he has had on the sport.
