Sipu Jha
NEW DELHI: India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah said he has no preference between bowling with the new or old ball, stressing that his priority is contributing to the team’s success after India clinched the five-match T20I series with two games to spare following a commanding eight-wicket victory in the third match at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Sunday.Chasing 154, India brushed aside an early setback to race home in just 10 overs, powered by Abhishek Sharma’s unbeaten 68 off 28 balls and Suryakumar Yadav’s 57 not out off 26.
Abhishek brought up a 14-ball fifty — the second-fastest by an Indian — as India surged to 94/2 in the powerplay. Before the batting onslaught, however, Bumrah had set the tone with a superb spell in the first innings, returning figures of 3/17 in four overs as New Zealand were restricted to 153/9 despite resistance from Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman and skipper Mitchell Santner.Explaining his approach, Bumrah spoke about adjusting to the conditions after the initial overs. “I was keeping an eye when Harshit and Hardik bowled, what is the best option over here. Obviously when I came, the ball had become a little scuffed up. So the ball usually, the white ball doesn’t swing for long. So what was my best option, how I wanted to try. So I tried to do that,” he said during the post-match presentation after receiving the Player of the Match award.Asked whether he prefers bowling with the new or old ball, Bumrah underlined his adaptability. “I’m happy as far as I’m able to contribute. So if the team wants me to bowl with the new ball I’m more than happy, if they want me to bowl in the end, I’m happy to do that. I did that in Asia Cup as well. That was a new role for me. I’ve never done that before for too long. That bowling only three overs, but as a team we have to be flexible, so I’m flexible as well.”The match also marked a personal milestone for Bumrah, who completed 10 years in international cricket.Reflecting on his journey, he said, “Oh, it feels really good. I, as a child, only dreamt to play one game and you know, 10 years playing for your country, being not an allrounder, being a pure fast bowler, you know, fighting aches and pains, assumptions, opinions. Because when people saw me, I was not supposed to play for long. People gave me six months. So this is something that I was really proud of that playing for your country for so long and hopefully the journey continues but that is something that, you know, it’s a feather in my cap and I’ll keep it with me.”
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