Former Indian cricketer Abhishek Nayar applauded veteran speedster Jasprit Bumrah for his outstanding spell in the second T20I against Ireland in Dublin. In only his second game from his return to action after an 11-month injury layoff, Bumrah finished with figures of 2/15 in his four overs on Sunday, August 20 as well. He also impressed in his first game with the figures of 2/24 in his four overs.
Speaking to Jio Cinema post-game, Nayar said, “I think the Indian management and everyone in India will be extremely happy watching Bumrah bowl. I think somewhere the hope of winning the ODI World Cup has gone from 100 per cent to 110 per cent. He opened his bowling with 140 (kmph) just tells how eager he is.”
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“Bumrah spoke in the last game about the outfield being wet, this time around, he was on point from ball one. Bowled just one over in the powerplay but then used himself very differently (12t, 17th, 20th). So, I think just in terms of his execution, he was 10 on 10. You could see his ball tailing in, you could see his ball seam in with the angle. We saw him using the off cutter and the leg cutter as well in the 2nd T20I,” again added Nayar.
However, Jasprit Bumrah also surpassed all-rounder Hardik Pandya as India’s 3rd highest wicket-taker in the T20I format, with 74 wickets in 62 games. With his maiden over in the final over of the Ireland innings, Bumrah also joined fellow Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar in second place for the most maiden overs bowled (10) in the shortest format as well.
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“I am feeling good. It is tough to pick an XI. Great headache to have. Everyone is eager. Everyone is confident. All of us wanted to play for India. Eventually, everyone has to work their way up. If you play with a baggage of expectation, you are under pressure. You have to keep those expectations aside. You are not doing yourself 100 percent justice if you are playing with so many expectations,” Bumrah said.
The final T20I will take place at the same venue on Wednesday, August 23.
