Premium pacer Jasprit Bumrah and star all-rounder Hardik Pandya played crucial roles in India's historic triumph in the recently concluded edition of the T20 World Cup 2024. However, prior to the mega tournament, both were also part of the Mumbai Indians set up together, where their franchise had to face really disappointing outing as they finished last on the points table and their newly appointed captain Hardik Pandya was on the receiving end of unnecessary hate with fans booing him across venues. Now the star bowler Bumrah has broken the silence on the matter and said it is the way it is as you can not shut people up but instead shut that door with your performance.
Jasprit Bumrah on Hardik Pandya
Bumrah said that India is an emotion-driven country and both fans and players get emotional. It does affect the player but there is nothing really you can do about it. He told a player can shut that door by focusing on himself and performing.
"We understand (that) we live in a country where emotion is really the talking point. It’s an emotion-driven country. We understand that fans do get emotional, and players are also emotional. It does affect that you’re an India player, and you’re playing in India, and your own fans are speaking that about you. But it is the way it is. You’ve got to take it on your chin. How can you go out there and stop people? If you start focussing on yourself, you try to shut that door,” said Bumrah to Indian Express.
Hardik to return with SL tour, Bumrah gets extended rest
All-rounder Hardik Pandya will be once again visible in action with the upcoming three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka. However, Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for this tour for workload management considering the long red-ball season ahead. Pandya was expected to be the T20I captain of India but BCCI shocked everyone by choosing Suryakumar Yadav as the successor of Rohit Sharma in the shortest format of the game. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar cited Hardik's fitness as the major reason behind this decision. He has also been just included in the T20I squad and won't be a part of the ODI team which will face SL.
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