"I don't try to burden youngsters": Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah (Pic: File Pic)

Considered a mentor for the new crop of Indian fast bowlers, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah says he never tries to "over-teach" the younger lot and steps in to help only when asked, to avoid burdening them with information. Bumrah will be a key player for India in the T20 World Cup 2024, hosted in the USA and the West Indies. Along with him, the Indian pace attack will also have the like Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh.

"You don't try to over-teach. That is something that I have learned," Bumrah told the ICC's official website for the T20 World Cup.

"Because whenever people need help, I let them have their own questions... Because you don't want to give too much information," he said.

Jasprit Bumrah stated that for youngsters it is important to know their path with being burdened. "It's not like they have just been lucky and they land here. So that is what I try to do. I do pass on certain information that I have gained over from my experience," he said.

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"But I don't try to burden them with (over) information. Because that is a part of the journey as well. That you have to find your own ways and solutions," he added.

In previous years, Bumrah suffered from a back injury which led him to miss out on the T20 World Cup 2022. Later, the pacer managed to fight back and showcased his exceptional skills with the ball in the ODI World Cup 2023. Bumrah bagged 20 wickets with an average of 18.65 and an economy of just 4 during the 2023 showpiece. returning from the injury, the Indian speedster said that his focus has been simply to enjoy his game.

"Because (certain) things will go my way. (Certain) things will not go my way," he said. "All of these things will be a part of my process. So I have just realised that I started playing this sport. Because I love this sport. And I will focus on that rather than the end result.

"So in that aspect you reduce your pressure. And you enjoy the sport. When you focus on those things. Rather than the things you cannot control," he added.

So far, Jasprit Bumrah has represented India in 74 T20Is and is also third on India's all-time list. He is reckoned as the best pacer when it comes to bowling yorkers. Former Australian pacer Brett Lee said that Bumrah is the only speedster in the world who is executing yorkers correctly.

Bumrah said his consistent yorkers are a result of years of practice. "So I played a lot of tennis-ball, rubber-ball cricket when I was growing up. I used to play a lot with my friends in summer camps," he said.

"...I used to think that this is the only way to get wickets. Because I was a fan of fast bowling. I was really fascinated by what I saw on the television. So I tried to replicate that. Is it (tennis-ball cricket) a secret (to bowling yorkers) or not? I don't know," Bumrah wondered.

"But repetition surely is. Because I have kept this delivery. I still practice it. I keep on practicing it. Because every skill that you develop, you have to practice it and make it stronger. So I think a combination of both would be the answer."
India are in Group A of the T20 World Cup, along with Pakistan, Ireland, Canada, and the USA. They will begin their campaign against Ireland on June 5.

(With PTI Inputs)