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Star Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah, fresh off a five-wicket haul on Day 3 against England at Headingley, faced the press with his characteristic calm and candour. India finished the day with a 96-run lead, and Bumrah’s performance was pivotal. The pace spearhead addressed a range of topics from managing external pressures to his thoughts on dropped catches, and the constant speculation surrounding his career longevity.
On Captaincy: “Indian Cricket is Most Important”
“As far as captaincy is concerned, I clearly knew that I might not be able to play all the matches, and that cannot be the case as a captain,” Bumrah stated, emphasising the paramount importance of Indian cricket above personal aspirations. “Indian cricket is the most important thing, so I have to see what I can do best for the team. Hence the decision.”
Unfazed by Career Talk: “Will Play Till God Wants”
Dismissing the speculation with a shrug, he remarked, “I understand that people use my name in the headline at times because that gets people views and that’s fine. I keep faith in myself and in my beliefs. I have always heard I will be done in 3 months, 6 months or 8 months, but I will play till I can and till God wants, and these things being written doesn’t bother me.”
Dropped Catches: “Part and Parcel of the Game”
Despite the momentary disappointment, Bumrah displayed immense maturity when asked about the dropped catches off his bowling. “I am disappointed for a second when catches are dropped. It’s a part and parcel of the game, and the guys are new and working so hard. I don’t want to create a scene and put more pressure on them. Nobody is doing it intentionally, so they will learn from this experience.”
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Managing Perceptions: “Expectations Are Not My Problem”
On the perennial challenge of managing the immense expectations placed upon him, Bumrah offered a remarkably grounded perspective. “I can’t control what people think about me or write about me. I look at myself, tick all the boxes, and then I see how it goes. Everybody’s expectations are not my problem. If I think about all that, I won’t be able to focus.” He reiterated his commitment to his own process and emphasised that while he is a senior player, responsibility for the team’s performance is shared equally.
Pitch and Target: “Looking to Set a Big Total”
Looking ahead to Day 4, Bumrah provided insights into the Headingley pitch and India’s batting strategy. “There are no demons in the wicket. It’s a good wicket to bat on. We are looking to set a big total.” He acknowledged areas for improvement from the first innings, stating, “We had a very good first day, we wanted to capitalise more. There are a few shots we reflected on as a team and we don’t want to repeat those mistakes in the second innings.”
Analysing Harry Brook and No-Ball Hat-Trick
When questioned about Harry Brook’s attacking knock, Bumrah acknowledged the English batter’s skills. “Brook is an interesting batter. Fate had decided 99 for him, he was dropped a few times before that. Taking nothing away from him, he played well, he played some good shots. Hopefully, we will plan better for him next innings.”
Finally, on the unusual hat-trick of no-balls, Bumrah attributed it to the challenging conditions. “When you are running to bowl down the slope and you are a little tired, no-balls can happen — especially because we in India are used to bowling in simple, straight grounds.”
Also Read: Dropped catches? No support? All in a day’s work for Jasprit Bumrah