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India's pace-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah wreaked havoc in the first session of Day 2 with three quick wickets. Bumrah returned to the pavillion with a five-wicket haul to his name, his first at the venue. After Day 2's play, Bumrah talked about the talk around his workload and the decision to play three Tests in the ongoing series. The no.1 ranked Test bowler was ecstatic to make it the Lord's Honours Board and criticised the media for using his name for views, subscribers by creating sensation.
“It's good to be on the Honours board, but I know that discussions will keep happening. There are so many cameras here. Even when we practice, there are so many cameras,” said Bumrah in the press conference.
“This is the era of views, subscribers. I know that everyone wants to create something sensational. Things happen, but it's not in my hands,” he added.
Bumrah took legendary Indian batter Sachin Tendulkar's example as he talked about players getting judged.
“Log paise kama rahe hai mere through toh achi baat hai (People are minting money through me so its a good thing). At least they will give me blessings that I gave them viewership. But I don't think about all those things. You will be judged as long as you are wearing this jersey. Every cricketer goes through that,” said the 31-year-old.
“As long as I am on TV, judgments will keep coming. Obviously, that's part and parcel of professional sport. You will always be judged by your performances day in and day out. Sachin sir played 200 Test matches, and he was also still judged. So everybody judges. That's how it is."
Bumrah on Dukes ball controversy
Bumrah also talked about the ball-change controversy. The Dukes ball's condition deteriorated pretty early on Day 2 which irked Indian bowlers and captain Shubman Gill, leading to a heated exchange with the umpires. He joked about not wanting to make any controversial comment and risk facing a fine from the ICC.
"The ball changes, I don't really control that. Obviously I don't really want to lose out on money because I worked very hard, I bowled a lot of overs, so I don't want to say any controversial statement and get my match fees deducted. But we were bowling with the ball that we were given and that's how it is. We can't change it, we can't fight it. Sometimes it goes your way, sometimes you get a bad ball, that's how it is," the veteran pacer said.
Bumrah's fifer helped India bowl out the hosts for 387 despite ressistance from the lower order. Later, KL Rahul's unbeaten half-century helped India post 145/3.
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