Team India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is in excellent form ahead of the highly anticipated match against arch-rivals Pakistan in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Bumrah delivered his best performance in an ODI World Cup match, taking 4/39 against Afghanistan in India’s second match of the tournament at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Wednesday.
The upcoming India vs Pakistan match in Ahmedabad holds special significance for Bumrah as it will be a “homecoming” for him. Bumrah represents Gujarat in first-class cricket, and his mother still resides in the city.
During a post-match press conference in Delhi, Bumrah expressed his excitement about returning home and seeing his mother. He also acknowledged the thrill of playing in front of a home crowd, as he has previously only played a Test match in Ahmedabad. Bumrah expects a lively atmosphere and a large turnout for the match, and he is hoping for the best.
In his ODI career so far, Bumrah has taken 135 wickets in 80 matches at an impressive average of 23.8. Following India’s convincing victory over Afghanistan, where they won with 15 overs to spare, the Indian team has climbed to the 2nd position in the World Cup 2023 Points Table with 4 points from 2 matches and a Net Run Rate (NRR) of +1.500. Their next opponents, Pakistan, are in 3rd place with 4 points and an NRR of +0.927.
When asked about the threat posed by Pakistan’s team, which includes talented players like Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Babar Azam, Bumrah emphasized that every team has talented batsmen and bowlers. He mentioned that India also has capable players in both departments and they are not specifically preparing for any particular team. Instead, the focus is on self-improvement and playing to their strengths. Bumrah believes that by concentrating on their own team and preparations, they give themselves the best chance to succeed.
Bumrah did not reveal his preference for bowling on seaming tracks or batting-friendly pitches. He stated that he is not result-oriented and does not measure his performance solely by the number of wickets he takes. Bumrah focuses on his preparation, reads the conditions, and adapts his approach accordingly. He trusts his strengths and aims to give his best on any given wicket.