Jasprit Bumrah was sensational in yesterday’s game against Rajasthan Royals: Shane Bond
Shane Bond, Mumbai Indians’ bowling coach, was full of praises of Jasprit Bumrah’s performance in the game against Rajasthan Royals in the 20th match of the 2020 IPL, specifically during the powerplay stages of the innings.
Bumrah returned figures of 4/20 off his 4 overs, among which he picked the prized scalp of Steven Smith. On the ploy to bowl their premier pacer at the powerplay, Bond said, “Jasprit genuinely wanted to take the new ball. So there was a discussion that went on last night and this morning. We probably used him in a more defensive way – at the back end of the powerplay.
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“There was a bit of grass around for him to nip it around. We knew Rajasthan’s key players were at the top of the order. We wanted to give him the opportunity to go out there, take the new ball and get us some wickets. Today, he was sensational.”
Jasprit Bumrah registered figures of 4/20 off his 4 overs in yesterday’s game against the Rajasthan Royals
Bumrah, who had an underwhelming start to this year’s IPL, has slowly started to regain his rhythm with each match. Bond said, “It takes four-five games for players to get back into the groove of things, the way we operate, the things we are looking for as a team. Jasprit, by his own admission, has done well. One or two overs, he hasn’t been as accurate as he wants to be.
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Bond then discussed the strategy which was discussed between Bumrah and him prior to him taking the field. He said, “We had a discussion pre-game, he wanted to back his yorkers and go back to his strengths and use his bouncers as he normally does. That’s the strength of Jasprit, when he has a performance that he is totally happy with, he seems to bounce back to a new leave.
“I know traditionally through the IPL, he gets better and better as the tournament goes on. He is a key member for us. Obviously, the way we used him today with the new ball, we will use him like that throughout the tournament against the rest of the teams.”