Fitness, hard work paid rich dividends: Bumrah
Nottingham, Aug. 22: Jasprit Bumrah has attributed his quick return from an injury and the subsequent second five-wicket haul in Test cricket to the hard work he does away from the camera and fitness regime.
Bumrah took 5/85 as England were reduced to 311/9 in pursuit of their 521-run target on Tuesday.
“I was always used to bowling lot of overs in Ranji Trophy, which always helps. That helped me today as well. When I was injured I was working on my fitness and my training schedules. I was always in touch with our trainers so that whenever I come (back) I should be in good space. All of that helps today,” he said.
This was the seamer’s second fivewicket haul in Tests, which paved the way for India’s comeback in the series.
“You don’t get anything easy. You have to work for it. We work hard. The hard work we do away from the camera is what bears results on days like these,” he said. ‘DIDN’T STOP BELIEVING’ Indian captain Virat Kohli said his team never stopped believing in their abilities even after backto-back defeats in the first two Tests. “We were down 0-2 and a lot of people stopped believing in us. But we didn’t and that is why it is 1-2 now2. We believe we can win the series. The victory was much-needed in the context of this series,” Kohli said.
India coach Ravi Shastri termed the victory as the “most clinical performance” in his four-year tenure and was happy that the team responded “magnificently” after he sought accountability after two defeats.
“I can’t ask for more. I am just proud of the guys. They way they stood up, came out here, competed and played,” Shastri said.
England captain Joe Root admitted England’s first-innings batting had let them down.
“It’s fair to say that we very much under-performed in that innings,” he said.
We as a team want to dedicate this win to the flood victims in Kerala. This is our bit we can do as the Indian cricket team. A tough time there.
— VIRAT KOHLI