After India’s emphatic 295-run win against Australia in the opening Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test, captain Jasprit Bumrah lauded Virat Kohli, emphasizing the team’s dependence on the experienced batter. “I have said this before, Virat Kohli doesn’t need us, we need him. He is an experienced player. This is his fourth or fifth tour. So he knows his cricket better than anyone else.”
Kohli, who had struggled with an average of 15.5 runs in the recent series against New Zealand, delivered an unbeaten 143-ball century in Perth. This effort helped India declare at 487/6 and set a target of 534, leading to Australia being bowled out for 238. Bumrah praised Kohli’s mental focus, saying, “He looked in good shape, he was mentally switched on. Sometimes when you have such a long career, you bat in tough conditions and he has batted in tough scenarios for a long time. But it’s difficult to do that all the time in every match. He looked to be in a good space and capitalised in the second innings.”
Reflecting on Kohli’s impact, Bumrah added, “We needed an experienced batter then. He also played well and helped his partners play well as well. So obviously, when he gets confidence at the start of the series, you can’t ask for more than that.”
On his first win as captain, Bumrah highlighted the team’s resilience after being bowled out for 150 on day one. “Very happy with the way we came back into the game. Then the way the batting stepped up, and how the bowlers did with a new bowling line-up as well.”
He also emphasized the positive attitude in the dressing room: “The biggest positive for me was that when we got out for 150, nobody in the dressing room was down. Everyone was confident that if we back our ability, we can also leave an impact.”
On managing his dual role as captain and bowler, Bumrah explained, “I was trying to focus on what I have to do. I wanted to make them play as much as possible because the new ball is crucial over here. Happy that I was able to execute that.”
Bumrah commended the debutants, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana: “The debutants weren’t nervous at all. Both wanted responsibility. Very positive sign. Youngsters coming in mey bhook bahut hai. (Very hungry). There is no fear.”
He also praised Yashasvi Jaiswal’s innings of 161. “This was Jaiswal’s best Test knock because he has an attacking nature. But in the second innings, he left certain balls, took time, and batted deep. That gives us a lot of confidence.”
Bumrah concluded by saying, “Special win, first win as captain. We were put under pressure and we showed the character. We can take confidence from this game but we need to start fresh in the second Test.”
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