Even if on a lighter note, it’s a badge of honour when a new batsman walking in tells Bumrah “go easy on me.”But another truth that Bumrah underlines is that India is obsessed about its batsmen and loves the big hits more than the stumps being sent cartwheeling.
That, however, doesn’t stop Bumrah from being “an advocate for bowlers”.
“I am an advocate for bowlers,” he said in a candid interview with The Indian Express. “I understand that our country loves big batsmen and fair enough, but for me, bowlers drive the game.”
(Photo Credit: BCCI video grab)
Hailing Test cricket, Bumrah believes that if a player can perform in red-ball format, success in white-ball cricket follows.
“I come from a generation where Test cricket used to be shown more on television and for me, till date, it’s the greatest format because I feel that if I do well in that, all other formats will take care of themselves,” said the 30-year-old Indian bowling spearhead, who has played 36 Tests so far and has taken 159 wickets at an average of 20.69 and economy rate of just 2.74.
Highlighting his support for the bowlers, Bumrah said there is one rule that he feels should be abolished.
“That no-ball free hit should go away,” he said.