India’s Test campaign in South Africa has been a learning experience for lanky paceman Jasprit Bumrah.
He said here on Thursday after India’s practice session, “It’s always challenging whenever you come to a new country, the wickets are different, the weather is different. You get a fair idea of the lines and lengths to bowl. You need to adapt. I never go by perceptions.”
He conceded Indian pacemen had bowled a tad too full in the first innings. Bumrah said, “In the first innings we thought we bowled a little fuller than the normal here because in India we have to pitch fuller to get the swing and to get the batsmen on to the front foot. Over here, there is bounce, so there is a little bit of difference in length.”
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Bumrah elaborated, “We analysed that, adapted in the second innings and were able to create pressure.”
On India’s bowling coach B. Arun playing a big part in shaping his career, Bumrah said, “He has seen me from the time I walked in as an under-19 boy at the NCA where he was the coach. He knows my bowling, my strengths and weaknesses.”
About dismissing the big fish, A.B. de Villiers, for his first Test wicket, Bumrah said, “As a bowler you look to get your first wicket as early as possible and I got AB. My motto is not to get too excited, take the confidence into the next Test.”
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Bumrah said he and his pace colleagues will focus on not bowling no-balls, a folly that has bit India during key moments. “We will focus on where our foot is going.”
Young South African opener Aiden Markram, taking about the Centurion pitches in general, said, “Usually it’s a good batting wicket here, there have been some big scores. But how they have prepared it this time I’m not too sure. I’m pretty sure they are going to prepare it similar to last week, maybe not as extreme.”
Batsmen, he said, should strive to score runs when the conditions are against them. “It’s not going to be easy, but I think if you can apply yourself and play for long periods within the gameplan that suits you, the runs are up for grabs.”
Talking about the Indian team, Markram said, “There’s a reason why they are the No. 1 team in the world — they have quality players in all departments. They tick all the boxes and they have come here to compete, which is great.”