Sydney:
On the first day of the fifth India-Australia Test in Sydney, a rare glimpse of Jasprit Bumrah’s aggressive side was on full display. The star Indian fast bowler, who tops the ICC Test bowler’s rankings, engaged in a heated argument with Australian batter Sam Konstas during the final hour of play on January 3. This intense exchange was followed by Bumrah’s dramatic celebration after dismissing Usman Khawaja on the last ball of the day.
Bumrah’s charged-up behavior was a departure from his typically calm demeanor, catching the attention of fans and experts alike. In a recent interview, Bumrah elaborated on his approach to aggression in the game. “I am aggressive, but I don’t need to go and abuse the batsman,” he explained. Reflecting on his early days, Bumrah recalled how he used to emulate the aggressive behavior of bowlers he watched on TV, only to realize it didn’t work in his favor.
“When I was a kid, I saw bowlers on television screaming and shouting and going head-to-head. When I tried it, I became too aggressive; when I tried to play in club cricket, it didn’t work in my favour,” Bumrah said. He emphasized the importance of staying calm and composed, which he believes gives him a mental advantage. “When I’m nice and calm and relaxed, people don’t know what’s going on in my head, so that gives me a mental advantage. That helps me to stay calm and make better decisions.”
Bumrah, who recently won the Player of the Tournament award in the T20 World Cup 2024, stressed that in a game heavily favoring batsmen, bowlers must be aggressive. However, he distinguished his approach from others: “My way of aggression is different; I don’t need to abuse, but my body language and the way I run in and bowl—that is how I want to show aggression.”
While Bumrah acknowledged that he doesn’t initiate sledging, he also made it clear that he won’t back down when confronted. “I obviously won’t lie; it happens. But I don’t start it. But when it comes my way, I don’t back down as well, because that is how I started playing. It is very easy for me to start that battle, but I don’t do it consciously because I want to be in my zone or my moment.”
