Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is raring to have a go at the Aussies as he continues to gear up for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy that will see India lock horns with the current holders of the ICC World Test Championship in a five-match series starting third week of November. Bumrah is fit and fresh having taken a long break after playing a key role in India’s T20 World Cup triumph.
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The 30-year-old recently made his return to competitive cricket with the Chennai Test against Bangladesh which India won by 280 runs. Considering the pace-friendly conditions in Australia, he will be vital to India’s hopes of retaining the BGT.
“It’s important to be smart (to stay fit for Australia) because we had a long break after the T20 World Cup,” Bumrah said on JioCinema on Monday. “I didn’t play a lot of cricket, I was preparing for the big Test season. It’s good to get some overs under the belt.”
Bumrah is part of India’s playing XI for the second Test currently underway in Kanpur. Rain and ground conditions have meant only 35 overs of play was possible in the first three days before the contest finally resumed under a sunny sky today.
Bumrah though hopes to be “firing on all cylinders” by the time India play their first Test against Australia in Perth from November 22.
“Obviously, here (Kanpur) we missed a few days (of cricket) but it’s important to look forward to building my overs and getting ready for Australia. The number of overs to be bowled will be a lot more in Australia than in India. You keep playing and getting into the groove. By the time you reach Australia, firing on all cylinders,” Bumrah said.
Bumrah says Test remains his favourite format and his goal is to keep representing India in red-ball cricket for a long time.
“My favourite format is the Tests; I’ve always said that. I wanted to play this format for a long period of time and I am doing it. I’m trying to give my absolute best in this format,” he said.
When asked how he makes adjustment to playing on different surfaces, Bumrah said, “You have to quickly adjust. Have to use your experience because you’ve played lot of cricket in different conditions, understand where the trend is going and quickly adapt to that. Then you start communicating with others as well like about changing lines and lengths. Have to be proactive in that way.”
Not a single ball was bowled on Day 2 and Day 3 of the Kanpur Test and Bumrah said the players used their free time to relax.
“Not much. After the first day when it got stopped, we were ready for the second day but weather isn’t in our control. This is something new that has happened – we used to get ready and then wait for updates. It’s the way it is. Can’t control the weather, good two relaxing days and we’re back at it again,” he said.
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