Jasprit Bumrah, who is important for BCCI's ODI World Cup plans, made a heroic return to international cricket on Friday. The senior pacer played a pivotal role in his team's resounding win over Ireland in the inaugural T20I of the three-match T20I series between India and Ireland in Dublin. In a match hampered by rain, Bumrah picked two wickets in his first over. Bowling first, India restricted a depleted Ireland to a paltry 139/7. In reply, India had reached 47/2 in 6.5 overs before rain stopped the proceedings. No play was possible after this as the rain-imposed halt continued and eventually the Men in Blue were declared winners by 2 runs via Duckworth-Lewis (DLS) method.
Jasprit Bumrah, who won 'Player of the Match' award for registering outstanding bowling figures of 2/24 in his four overs (16 dot balls), got a bit emotional as he thanked the staff at Bengaluru's National Cricket Academy (NCA) where he underwent rehabilitation for many months, post back issues.
“(I) felt very good. So many sessions I did at the NCA and the practice games. Didn't feel like I missed out a lot or I'm doing something new so credit to the staff there,” Bumrah said.
The star Indian pacer, who is also the captain for the entire IND vs IRE T20I series, stated that there were hardly any nerves even as he made a comeback to the team.
“Very happy to be back and always good to contribute. [Any nerves?] Not really, when you're captaining you are thinking more about the whole team and not just your own performance,” said the 29-year-old star pacer.
“Very happy that the weather was helpful for the bowlers. In every game you want more and you always search for a perfect game. Credit to them as well for keeping their nerves in a crisis.”
In the upcoming 2023 ODI World Cup in India, Jasprit Bumrah is likely to lead India's pace bowling attack alongside Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj in the marquee event.