(Cricket news) On his journey with the Mumbai Indians: It’s been very good. I came here as a 19-year-old and I didn’t even expect to play Ranji Trophy. Yes, I was in the set-up, but then John Wright saw me, and I came here. And over the years, I’ve grown here and won five titles with the team, So, it’s been a great journey so far, Bumrah said.
On comparisons with legends Malcolm Marshall, Dale Steyn and Kapil Dev: It’s great to have that adulation and people make a lot of comparisons. That’s really good because I started playing cricket watching the television. I have seen people and I wanted to imitate them. But having said that, I don’t take it too hard because I came into this sport because I love the sport and I wanted to do what I am doing. So, I take it with a pinch of salt, I acknowledge it and then I continue moving forward.
On whether the quiet space for him before a match has decreased after he became a father: I don’t need it. When I look at him, that’s the best feeling in the world. When he smiles at me, that’s all I need. I don’t need any other quiet spaces. That’s the best feeling in the world.
On how things would have panned out had he moved to Canada like he previously considered: Every boy dreams of making it big and tries to be a cricketer. You go to every street, and you would find five players who want to play for India. So, you have to have a back-up plan. Our relative lives there. I am happy that things worked out, otherwise I may have tried to play for the Canadian team and do something over there as well. But I am very happy that things worked out and I played for India and Mumbai Indians happened. After that, life just went on a cricketing journey which has been very special for me.
On how his association with Mumbai Indians has impacted his life and career: It has impacted me a lot because in early years, I had not seen these players before, and now I was playing with Sachin Tendulkar. My first captain in the IPL was Ricky Ponting, Mitchell Johnson was here, and 33 players were there. I was just looking and thinking, am I in the wrong place? Everything just felt weird. So, from there to now being 30, being a father, this team has seen my whole journey and I have grown as an individual. I didn’t even think I’d be here in the same team for 11 years, but I’m very happy and grateful that I’m still here.
On whether he has ever bowled the perfect delivery. If yes, which one was it: There is no perfect delivery in cricket. Every ball is a wicket-taking delivery, according to me, because in T20 cricket, anything can happen. But for me, my first wicket is very, very special, because I remember, I had not played a lot of cricket at night. Because in domestic cricket, you played all day games, and I didn’t understand the concept of the ground being wet and the dew being there. So, I bowled my first over and the first three balls went for three boundaries and on the fourth, I got the wicket of Virat Kohli. At that time, I was slipping, so I was not able to land the ball where I wanted to. Sachin sir was there at mid-off, so I told him, ‘I’m slipping, I’m not used to bowling like this and he told me not to worry and one good delivery and your match will be different. That’s exactly what happened, and I took three wickets after that. That assurance was needed at that time.”
On how he keeps himself motivated on those days he does not feel too motivated to play: There are many days when I don’t want to get up, I just want to sleep. But then you realise that good days are there ahead and this is a part of being a professional. I do a job and this is the only job I have. If I can’t even do that, then what’s the point? So, then, in some way, I try and convince myself. Maybe delay it a little bit here and there, but then I go and do my job.
Also read: Ponting advised me to focus on timing the ball: Fraser-McGurk
