In a unique twist in this World Cup, India faced the challenge of setting a total for the first time. Struggling with wickets falling regularly, they managed to reach 229 for 9, largely thanks to Rohit Sharma’s gritty 87 on a challenging pitch. Despite the challenges, India secured a comfortable victory over England, and Jasprit Bumrah considers it a valuable test for the table-topping team.
Bumrah, who played a pivotal role in India’s 100-run victory by taking 3 for 32, expressed his thoughts in an interview with Sky Sports, stating, “It was a significant test for us because we’ve been fielding first for a while now. This was a good challenge because in the previous series, I played where India chased.”
Bumrah elaborated on the challenge, “We were put under pressure; we lost a few early wickets. In the field, we had to put in a lot of effort. So, I’m very pleased with the result.”
England, seeking their second win in the tournament, made a strong start in their chase with openers Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow propelling them to 30 runs within the first five overs. However, Bumrah’s brilliance in the fifth over altered the course of the game, dismissing Malan and trapping Joe Root lbw in consecutive deliveries.
Following Bumrah’s strikes, Mohammed Shami took over, claiming quick wickets of his own. Kuldeep Yadav’s exceptional delivery to dismiss Jos Buttler further deepened England’s predicament.
Bumrah explained his strategy, “When you bowl with the new ball, you initially look for swing. If there is some swing, you try to exploit it; otherwise, you focus on hitting a hard length to make it challenging for the batsmen.”
Reflecting on his return from injury, Bumrah emphasized his unwavering commitment to the game, disregarding the speculations about his career’s longevity. “My wife works in the sports-media department, so I heard numerous questions regarding my career. But it doesn’t bother me. I’m content and have realized my love for playing the game. I was not chasing anything. I came back from the injury in a great headspace. I’m focusing on the positives and savoring the game as much as I can.”