Jasprit Bumrah says he is aggressive but doesn’t believe in abusing batsmen

Star Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah, known for his calm demeanor on the field, surprised fans and pundits alike with his fiery celebration during the ongoing fifth Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The normally composed bowler charged at Australian opener Sam Konstas after dismissing Usman Khawaja on the last ball of Day 1, displaying a rare burst of aggression.

Bumrah’s reaction sparked a debate among cricket fans, prompting the fast bowler to address his approach to aggression during a recent interview with Forbes India. He clarified that while he is an aggressive competitor, he does not believe in abusing hitters to make his point.

“I’m aggressive, but I don’t need to be abusive”

Talking about his mindset on the field, Bumrah explained that his aggression is reflected in his body language and bowling style, not through verbal confrontations.

“I am aggressive; It’s just that I don’t need to go and abuse the batsman,” Bumrah said. “When I was a kid, I watched bowlers on TV yelling and fighting face to face. But when I tried, I became too aggressive and it didn’t work in my favor.”

The 31-year-old pacer shared that he consciously worked to control his emotions after realizing that overdoing it affected his performance.

“When I’m calm and nice, people don’t know what’s going on in my head. “That gives me a mental advantage,” he added.

Bumrah’s philosophy on aggression

Bumrah believes bowlers need to be aggressive, especially in modern cricket, which heavily favors batsmen. However, their version of aggression has more to do with concentration and intent than verbal battles.

“I’m not there to knock down hitters. “I’m there to do my job and make my team win,” he said. “But my form of aggression is different. My body language and the way I run and bowl, that’s how I show aggression.”

While Bumrah prefers to stay in his zone, he does not back down when challenged by his opponents.

“I will not lie; it happens. But I don’t start it. When it comes to something, I don’t back down either,” Bumrah explained. “It’s very easy for me to start that battle, but I don’t do it consciously because I want to stay in my moment.”

The Konstas incident: What happened?

The heated exchange between Bumrah and Australian debutant Sam Konstas occurred during the final hour of Day 1 at the SCG. The incident began when Khawaja took more time to settle into the crease, disturbing Bumrah’s rhythm.

Konstas, standing next to the non-striker, made a comment that provoked a reaction from Bumrah. The Indian pacer, known for his calm personality, did not hold back this time.

On the next ball, Bumrah forced Khawaja to advance one to KL Rahul at second slip. His celebratory charge towards Konstas increased the intensity of the moment, with Virat Kohli also joining in from the slip cordon.

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