India’s limited-overs vice-captain KL Rahul reckons Jasprit Bumrah is a ‘champions player’ and added that it’s only about time before the fast bowler finds his rhythm back. In the first two ODIs against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the speedster picked up two wickets and conceded 73, and 79 runs, respectively, in his spells of 10 overs.
Indian bowlers, including Bumrah, were sent to the cleaners by the Australian batsmen in the first two ODIs. Bumrah also had a difficult tour of New Zealand, earlier this year, where he couldn’t bag a single and was toppled from the ODI bowling charts by Kiwi pacer Trent Boult.
Rahul, however, feels that it would be unfair to draw conclusions because the pitches in Australia and New Zealand are conducive to batting.
“Look, we all know Jasprit (Bumrah) is quite fiery and he is very very competitive on the field. And he has very high expectations of himself,” Rahul was quoted as saying during the post-match press conference.
“New Zealand was a long long time ago. I am sure he sets the bar very high… he means a lot to this set-up and we know the value of Jasprit,” he added.
“It’s about time a champion player like that will come back and deliver and get wickets for us. You also have to understand that in New Zealand and Australia, the wickets are so good to bat on. You will see top bowlers not getting wickets [once in a while]. So that is acceptable,” Rahul stated.
India, after their 51-run defeat on Sunday, trail 0-2 in the three-match series. The 28-year-old batsman, despite the defeat, said the players are trying to stay upbeat.
“The mood in the camp has been, and is, still very positive. Sometimes as teams, you learn to accept that the opposition played better cricket. It is home conditions for them,” Rahul said.
Virat Kohli and his men are on a five-game winless run in the ODIs after their 0-3 drubbing at the hands of the Black Caps. The third and final ODI will be played at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Wednesday, December 2.