India speedster Jasprit Bumrah was recently involved in an on-field heated exchange with Australia's young batter Sam Konstas during Day 1 of the fifth Test match at Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney. The incident happened during the last over of the day when Bumrah took his stance and was preparing himself to bowl to Usman Khawaja. Sam Konstas, at the non-striker's end, made a remark that did not sit well with India's pace spearhead. Bumrah reacted by taking two steps forward, engaging in a heated exchange with Konstas.
Bumrah who is known for his calm celebrations was seen as bothered by something Konstas said in the final over, and was quick to let him know after making a crucial first breakthrough for India. In an interview with Forbes India for their Showstoppers 2024 segment, and revealed how he is often up for the fight given his upbringing as a youngster in cricket.
"So, I am aggressive. It's just that I don't need to go and abuse the batsman. Because when I started, I was a kid, so I saw the bowlers on the television screaming and shouting and going head to head. So when I tried it, I became too aggressive. When I was a kid and I tried to play in club cricket, it didn't work in my favour. So when I realised that I go overboard, so for that, to control that, I consciously worked on it. And then when I'm nice and calm and relaxed" said Bumrah.
"People don't know what's going on in my head. So that gives me a mental advantage. So I don't want to give any advantages to anyone. So that is how I worked on it. And that helps me to stay calm, make better decisions. And I am aggressive. I'm not there to, you know, give throw downs to batters and get hit. I'm there to do a job and I want to make my team win. But my way of aggression is different. I don't need to abuse, but my body language and the way I run in and bowl, that is the way I want to show aggression" added Bumrah.
"See, obviously I am not going to lie, it happens, right? But I don't start it. But if sometimes it comes to my way, then I don't back down as well because that is how I started playing. So it just, it is very, very easy for me to start that battle. But I don't do it consciously because I want to be in my zone and in my moment" concluded Bumrah.
Coming back to the fifth Test match, India speedster Jasprit Bumrah left the field after bowling an over in the second session and in Bumrah's absence Virat Kohli took the captaincy duties. India's Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna picked three wickets each, Bumrah got two as Australia bundled out India on just 181 runs. India's top batting order again failed to perform as Pant was India's highest run-getter scoring 61 runs that helped India to take a lead of 145 run on Day 2 by the end of Day 2.