Jasprit Bumrah left South Africa’s batting line-up in tatters as he tore through with a stunning fifer on Friday. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
Jasprit Bumrah made use of his press conference after the day’s play in Kolkata to draw a clear line around the ongoing debate about his workload, shortly after leading India’s attack with a clinical five-wicket haul against South Africa on the opening day of the first Test.Bumrah, who finished with 5/27 to help bowl the visitors out for 159 in 55 overs, was asked once again about the scrutiny around his playing schedule.The India pacer has missed sporadic matches over the past year due to fitness concerns, including the final day of the Sydney Test, and was rested during parts of the England and Australia tours. He made it plain that the discussion does not interest him. “I try to give my best in whichever format I play. These questions are not my questions; I will not answer them. I try to play as much as I can. I try to take care of my body,” Bumrah said. The last few months have seen him move across formats, be it the England Tests, Asia Cup T20Is, West Indies Tests and the Australia T20Is before returning home for this series. Despite the packed calendar, he insisted his priorities remain straightforward. “I try to give my best in each and every format… Rest, question-answer sessions — whoever wants to play, they can play. I’m happy as far as I’m able to contribute and try to learn new things.” On a dry Eden Gardens surface where India opted for four spinners in a home Test for the first time since 2012, it was Bumrah who made the decisive impact. South Africa began steadily but lost momentum once the new ball started to misbehave, with uneven bounce and reverse swing becoming factors. Bumrah said the conditions demanded discipline. “Patience is the first lesson in Test cricket. If you’re too desperate or you go for a magic ball, the runs come too fast. You need to control your temptation and build pressure.”
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He explained how his adjustments came early. “When I bowled the first over, everything happened — the ball swung, it stayed low, it went high… As the ball became softer, it settled down.” South Africa’s batting coach Ashwell Prince said surfaces will always vary and demanded adaptability, adding context to a day dominated by India’s pace spearhead.
