Mumbai Indians bowler Jasprit Bumrah bowled an excellent Super Over to help his team defend 11 runs against Gujarat Lions on Saturday, after the 20-over match ended in a tie. Bumrah conceded only six runs in the over, which included a no-ball and a wide, but he made up for it with unplayable yorkers and slower deliveries. Gujarat Lions’ experienced batsmen, Brendon McCullum and Aaron Finch, had no response.
It was the first ever Super Over that Bumrah had bowled in his career, and he was picked over his more experienced teammate, Lasith Malinga. Bumrah said he had learnt a lot from Malinga while training with the Sri Lankan.
“I practise with Malinga how to bowl the yorker consistently,” Bumrah said in the post-match press conference. “I always have a death-bowling session whenever I practise because this is the time when I bowl for Gujarat in the domestic matches and for Mumbai Indians.”
Asked if he felt the pressure, Bumrah said, “It was the first time I was bowling a Super Over. There’s always pressure because [we were defending] only 11 runs, but at that time you try to keep a calm head, not focus on the negative, just focus on the positive aspects, think about the plans you made. I was just thinking about that.”
Ahead of the final ball of the Super Over, Bumrah was approached by Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma and other senior players. Asked what advice he got from them, Bumrah said, “Not too much. They just told me to back your skills, this is just another over, don’t take extra pressure on yourself. Be confident, be calm and try to execute your plans.”
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