The recently-concluded India vs South Africa Test series had a few fierce battles on the field. One of the most unlikely battle was between India’s fast-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and young left-arm pacer Marco Jansen. The two were involved in a heated exchange in the second Test at the Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. At one point of time, umpire Marais Erasmus had to intervene and stop things from escalating any further in the heat of the moment. After the three-Test series and ahead of the first ODI on January 17, Marco Jansen, the young Proteas pacer has said that he does not have any “hard feelings” for his Mumbai Indians (MI) teammate.
"I've played with Bumrah in the IPL and we're good friends. You're not going to back down when you're playing for your country and sometimes on-the-field things get heated," the bowling all-rounder said in a video posted by Cricket South Africa (CSA) on their Twitter handle.
"He obviously did the same and there are no hard feelings because it was in the heat of the moment, because it was two players giving their all for their countries," Marco Jansen added.
Marco Jansen and Bumrah played together for five-time IPL champions MI in IPL 2021. He was roped in for his base price of Rs 20 lakh and got to play in two matches in which he picked up two wickets and maintained a decent economy rate.
Despite a fiery exterior that everyone witnessed in his debut Test series, Jansen says that he is an introvert off the field and loves to express himself on the field.
"I'm a bit of an introvert off the field. But I want to express myself on the field in the sport I love the most. I show the passion and love for the game. If there's one place I want to show my passion, it's got to be on the field," Marco Jansen said.
After the barrage of short balls Jansen directed at Bumrah which led to a heated exchange, the latter got his revenge in the next game when he knocked over the youngster’s off stump. However, the battle continued as Marco Jansen got rid of Bumrah in the next innings. The Indian speedster did not get another chance as South Africa chased down the target of 212 with seven wickets in hand and won the Test series.
Marco Jansen, who replaced an injured Anrich Nortje in the Test side, is set to make his ODI debut as well. The two sides will go up against each other in coloured jerseys on January 19 at Boland Park, Paarl.
