India’s talismanic pacer Jasprit Bumrah reflected on his battle with Australian debutant Sam Konstas during the Melbourne Test, admitting that he felt he could have dismissed the young Aussie batter multiple times in the opening overs.
Konstas, who replaced Nathan McSweeney in the squad, had a daunting task ahead of him, opening the batting for Australia in front of a full house, facing one of the most formidable pace attacks in world cricket.
Bumrah’s Reflection Battle With Konstas
Bumrah, speaking to Cricket ahead of Day 3 at the Melbourne Test, recalled his first impressions of bowling to Konstas. “I felt I could have got him out six or seven times in the first two overs of his innings,” he said.
Despite this, Bumrah acknowledged that cricket often works in unpredictable ways. “Some days it pays off, and other times it doesn’t. On those days, you might end up being criticised for not getting the wicket,” he added.
The Indian pacer noted that despite the challenges, he always felt involved in the contest and was eager for every new challenge.
Konstas Efforts In Australia
Konstas’ efforts were pivotal in Australia’s solid batting performance, as he finished his innings with a composed 60 off 65 balls. His contribution helped Australia post a challenging total of 474, putting India on the back foot as they began their response on Day 2.
The Aussie bowling attack, led by the likes of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, backed up the strong batting display, leaving India at a precarious 164/5 by the end of Day 2.
While Konstas’ attacking style caught the spotlight, Bumrah turned the focus back to his form in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series. The India pacer acknowledged that results had gone in his favour during the series, but he also stressed that bowling performances are often situational.
Bumrah explained, “Yes, the results have been in my favour, but I have bowled better in certain situations and conditions.”
He further added, “Some days, your execution might not be ideal, and you still get wickets, while other times you bowl your best but don’t see the rewards. Cricket always balances out in the end.”
Also Read: BGT: Australia In Driver’s Seat After Smith’s 140 And India’s Batting Meltdown In 4th Test
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