India’s young fast-bowler Jasprit Bumrah persisted that India still has a lot of time to win the second Test against South Africa despite the fact that the hosts have taken the lead of 118 runs in the second innings with eight wickets in hand.
After the end of Day 3, Bumrah said, “The game is still in balance if we get early wickets tomorrow. The match can be in anybody’s favor. We will look to create pressure tomorrow as well. I think the game is still in balance right now.”
Bumrah was sensational in the second innings as he is the only successful bowler for India. He dismissed both Aiden Markram and Hashim Amla in successive overs. But the hosts recovered with the help of a brisk half-century from none other than AB de Villiers.
Talking about the same, Jasprit said, “We wanted to keep things simple and build pressure as a unit. We wanted to build pressure from both ends, thinking if we dry up their runs they will have to make some opportunities. So we were just focusing on creating pressure. That was helping us and that was our basic game.”
Rain and bad light intervened twice in the post-tea session of Day 3. Indian captain Virat Kohli wasn’t too happy that Indian bowlers had to bowl with a wet ball after the rain break. Describing the scenario, Bumrah said, “When we came, the outfield was wet so the ball went to the boundary sides and it got wet. So we asked the umpire, ‘ball is still getting wet, what do we do’. With both sides of the ball got wet and the ball didn’t swing anymore. We were just having a word with the umpire that the ball is wet so the ball won’t swing anymore. We were having a chat about what could be done in that situation.”
He further added, “We were carrying a good momentum and we wanted to carry on. It’s okay; we never get too disappointed because there is still lot of play is left in the match. We don’t get too disheartened that this didn’t happen. We wanted to carry on but the things didn’t work out so it’s okay.”
Talking about the missed chance off Dean Elgar as Parthiv Patel failed to go for the catch, Bumrah said, “We don’t criticise them. It’s not like they didn’t go for the catch on purpose. It is okay, it happens in the game. You cannot be too hard on them because a lot of the game is still left. We cannot make fun of them or make them under pressure because we have to forget the catch and move forward now.”
When asked about the Virat’s match-saving knock of 153, Bumrah replied, “Virat’s innings was very crucial for us and he brought us back into the game. We lost few early wickets yesterday as well, so he was playing an anchor role and till the end, he was fighting with us. It was a very important knock and he has always done well wherever he has gone. It was very important for us and it is good that the captain is leading from the front and taking responsibility.”
Jasprit concluded by explaining the difference between opening the bowling and coming first change, he said, “I am happy to bowl wherever my captain wants me to bowl. If he tells me to bowl upfront and be aggressive with the new ball, I am happy to do that. I am happy to do first change as well.”
