New Delhi: India spinner Axar Patel revealed that nobody in the Indian Team talks much with Jasprit Bumrah regarding his bowling plans and strategies. India’s bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, doesn’t like to give his inputs to Bumrah as he feels it may create confusion in his mind, said Axar. Bumrah delivered a magical spell against Afghanistan to secure a victory by 47 runs in a T20 World Cup Super Eight clash in Barbados on Thursday.
Bumrah clinched three wickets of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Hazratullah Zazai and Najibullah Zadran and gave only seven runs. This was the eighth consecutive T20 World Cup match where Bumrah conceded less than seven runs in his spell.
“I don’t think anyone talks much about Bumrah’s bowling. He has an idea of what to do and what not to do. So I think when it is going so well, I don’t think the bowling coach is giving so much input that there is some confusion in his mind. He just says that you are doing well, whatever thinking you are doing is also going well. So, I think, as much as I have seen, the bowling coach doesn’t interfere much. He says this during planning that whatever your mindset is, it is clear, so just execute your plans,” Axar Patel said in the post-match presentation.
Bumrah quickly realised that slower ones were the best way to take wickets on the Barbados track that was stopping and turning a bit. He got his first wicket through a slower delivery in the powerplay.
Indian bowlers did not allow Afghanistan batters to settle in and play shots freely. The Afghans could only manage 134 in their 20 overs.
Axar said having an experienced bowler like Bumrah in the side is always an added advantage.”Obviously, Jasprit Bumrah is a world-class bowler, and you know that with the quality of bowlers we have on our side – we can get out of a tough situation,”
Axar emphasized that the performance of the bowler at the other end doesn’t significantly alter his approach. He remains focused on his strengths to achieve the best results. You have to think about what you have, what is your strengths, what your weaknesses are. So don’t think much about what the other bowler did, like you said in partnerships we should bowl like this. I was just thinking that on this wicket what works for me. Like, after 1-2 balls, I realised that if I change the pace and length, it is better on this wicket. That’s what I was doing.
“I was not thinking that he has bowled so well from the other end, I will have to do this and that. If I think that way, I am putting more pressure on myself. I was thinking how I can give my best in this situation. That was my plan and I was bowling with that thinking,” he said.
Bumrah’s new-ball partner Arshdeep Singh also snatched three wickets to take his T20 world Cup wickets tally to 10.In addition to the pacers, spinners Axar, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav also made significant contributions. Playing in his first match of this World Cup, Kuldeep delivered impressive figures of 2/32, while left-arm spin-bowling all-rounders Axar and Jadeja each picked up a wicket.
