‘I felt I can get him out six or seven times in the first two’ - Jasprit Bumrah on battle against Sam Konstas

Debutant Sam Konstas made a name for himself by smacking Jasprit Bumrah all across the park in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground. He played ramps and reverse scoops against the premiere India pacer and hit 14 and 18 runs respectively in two overs against Bumrah. The 19-year-old batted aggressively, scoring 60 runs and that helped the other batters settle down as Australia posted 474 runs in the first innings.

Speaking on the challenge of bowling to Konstas, Bumrah noted that it was a new challenge and he felt to be well in control. The 31-year-old mentioned that he had played enough T20 cricket where the batter had played well against him but against Konstas, he felt to have dominated in the first couple of overs as Bumrah added that he could have picked up the opener’s wicket six or seven times in the same time frame.

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“I have experienced heaps of it. I have played T20 cricket a lot - more than 12 years of T20 cricket. Interesting batsman as well and I always felt I was in the game. Never felt I was far away from a wicket. Initially, I felt I can get him out six or seven times in the first two overs but that’s how cricket goes. Somedays it pays off, it looks good but some days it doesn’t and then you guys will be criticising the same person. So, that’s how cricket is and I love different challenges and always looking forward to a new challenge,” Bumrah said while speaking to 7 Cricket.

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Bumrah lauds Steve Smith’s century at MCG

Senior Australia batter Steve Smith hit back-to-back centuries against India in the ongoing five-match series. The star batter made 140 runs at the MCG and put India on the back foot. Bumrah lauded him ahead of Day 3 and highlighted that bowling to Smith is always tough because of his unorthodox batting.

“He has always been a challenge. He’s a little unorthodox, bit like me when I bowl because he’s not a conventional batter. Someday he’s shuffling, somedays he’s not. So, it brings out a new challenge. He scores in different areas of the ground, so you have to be very consistent. It’s always been a challenge. I have had good battles against him in all formats. Obviously, one of the games in this format, he’s difficult to bowl to. He played a great innings,” Bumrah said.