IND vs SA: "All Jasprit Bumrah Wanted Was A Bit Of Support From The Other End" - Rohit Sharma
Published - 29 Dec 2023, 11:17 AM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:24 AM
Indian captain Rohit Sharma lauded Jasprit Bumrah for his impressive bowling performance during the Boxing Day Test against South Africa. However, Rohit Sharma expressed disappointment over the lack of support for Jasprit Bumrah from other bowlers.
The Indian team faced a humiliating defeat in the first Test in Centurion on Day 3. The hosts amassed a total of 408 runs in their first innings and secured a lead of 163 runs. Opener Dean Elgar contributed 185 runs, and Marco Jansen remained unbeaten on 84.
Jasprit Bumrah impressed with a four-wicket haul (4/69), while Mohammed Siraj contributed with two wickets (2/91). Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna each claimed one wicket but conceded over 4.5 runs per over during the opposing team’s lone innings.
We Conceded A Lot Of Runs – Rohit Sharma
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Rohit Sharma emphasized the necessity of a collective effort from the bowling unit, stressing that relying on a single bowler is not sustainable. Rohit expressed hope for a stronger comeback in the next match.
“This wasn’t a 400-run wicket. The way the wicket was behaving, we conceded a lot of runs. It happens. We can’t depend on just one bowler. It’s important that the other three bowlers also do well. The way the opposition bowled, there’s a lot to learn from that,” Rohit said.
“Bumrah bowled well. All he wanted was a bit of support from the other end, which he didn’t get. That happens. All the other three bowlers were trying very hard, bending their backs, but it just didn’t work out. It didn’t happen the way we would’ve wanted to. But again, games like these teach what you need to do as a bowling group. Hopefully, they understand what went wrong and try and come back stronger in the next game,” he added.
All Indian batters, except Virat Kohli (76 off 82), failed to put up a fight in the second innings. The visiting team collapsed for 131 runs in 34.1 overs, resulting in an innings defeat by 32 runs. The Temba Bavuma-led team took a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Important To Have Individual Plans – Rohit Sharma
Reflecting on the batting collapse, Rohit Sharma stressed the importance of individualized plans tailored to each player’s strengths, acknowledging the diversity in techniques among the team members.
“When you come in such conditions, it’s important for you to have confidence in yourself even more than the technique. Mentally, if you trust yourself and your game on what you need to do. It’s important to have individual plans in such venues and such a country,” Rohit added.
“Everyone has a different kind of technique, so you can’t tell everyone how to play. It’s important to come here with individual plans. If you want to score runs and do well, individual plans are more important than techniques, to study their bowlers, their strengths,” the Indian skipper concluded.
India is scheduled to face South Africa in the second Test in Cape Town from January 3 to 7, 2024. The Indian team anticipates the return of Ravindra Jadeja, who was unavailable for the first game due to injury, to the lineup for the second and final match.
