World's Premier Fast Bowler Shares Insights on Cricket, Life & Philosophy in Ahmedabad
OUR CITY NEEDS A SPORTS ICON LIKE YOU. IS IT TOO EARLY FOR YOU TO HAVE AMBITIONS BEYOND CRICKET?
IT'S A LITTLE too early to be thinking about life after sport. I am passionate about the sport and I'd like to help it in the best way I can. But yes I live here, I'm from here and I started my journey from here, so I'd want to help as many people as I can when the time comes. I have not yet thought about too far ahead because then I will not be able to enjoy the now. I want to give it my absolute best. I don't want any regrets.
— ARJIT SONI, Founder & CEO, MYBYK - Greenpedia Bike Share Private Limited
WHEN YOU GO THROUGH VARIOUS UPS AND DOWNS, HOW DOES YOUR FAMILY TACKLE THINGS?
MY FAMILY comes from an education background. They understand how the sport works. We've kept life very simple. When I am home, I am not an India player or a Test captain. If my mom tells me that I have to sit down and eat, I have to sit down and eat. Ups and downs will be a part of your life. If you want to grow, you have to go through that journey. When a down comes, it comes to make me better. And when the good is there, you don't lose your shape.
— ARTI PATEL, Project Manager, Student Startup & Innovation Policy, Gujarat
YOUR BOWLING ACTION WAS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WHEN YOU BEGAN. DID YOU STRUGGLE TO GET INTO THE TEAM?
I NEVER REALLY faced struggles to get into the team but I never really had a lot of formal cricket growing up. But I always believed in my action. So I thought that it doesn't matter if people are not believing, because if I play on the confidence of others, it will never work. So I told myself that this is how it is, I will try, improve and get the best out of this.
— DHARMESH SHAH, Vice Chancellor, Indrashil University
Special Moment: Anant Goenka presenting Jasprit Bumrah with a framed copy of the first profile ever written on him. Bumrah saw the frame and said, "I remember this. My mother still has this page of The Indian Express kept with her"
Distinguished Guests: Dr Sharvil Patel, Managing Director, Zydus Lifesciences, with his son Shaurya
Industry Leaders: Bharat Jadwani, Managing Director, President Developers with Pradeep Jadwani, Chairman, President Developers
Business Presence: Nilesh Jetpariya, Managing Director, Kera Vitrified LLP
Your biggest regret?
I have no regrets because every journey, everything has made me reach here.
What's next for Jasprit Bumrah?
Next is going home and having dinner. I don't plan. I've never planned. I'm sure that if I do everything right, something greater is there in store.
The funniest sledge you remember hearing on field?
It's not a sledge but sometimes people come smiling to me and say, 'go easy on me' and I find that funny because I can't figure whether they are being serious or whether they are trying to play some game.
If there's one cricketing rule you have the power to change or modify, what would it be?
That no ball free hit should go away.
One thing no one knows about your wife.
That when I made my debut in internationals, it was also her first year in sports — she started as a presenter. So we started at the same time.
Your favourite moment in the entire T20 World Cup?
The last ball. It was an unreal feeling.
Has sportsmanship in cricket increased, decreased or stayed the same since the day you joined?
I think it's increased quite a lot.
The one umpire decision that you still think was wrong?
The decision on Marnus Labuschagne in the World Cup final. Whenever I meet Richard (Kettleborough) still, I tell him that he could have given that out.
If not Mumbai Indians, which team would you like to be in?
It's always been Mumbai Indians. It's been more than 10 years.
Your favourite celebrity sighting at the Ambani wedding?
I always wanted to meet Rajinikanth and I met him, so yes, that would be it.
Is there any brand or type of product you'll never endorse?
I might not do dating apps.
The one wicket that brings a smile to your face? Ollie Pope, Sean Marsh, Mohammad Rizwan, Olly Robinson, or Virat Kohli on your IPL debut?
I think I'll take Virat Kohli because I was a 19-year-old kid still convincing myself that I belong here.
The last time your wife and you disagreed on a cricketing matter?
We don't really disagree on cricket. We disagree on other things, but that is not for a public forum!
The greatest Indian cricket captain ever.
There are great captains, but I'll take my name — I am my favourite captain.
The one commentator whose commentary you look forward to: Gavaskar, Shastri, Bhogle, Hayden or Bishop?
I really like Ian Bishop. Ravi Shastri is also great, but Ian Bishop has that Caribbean feel.
The one bowler you believe has the potential to one day be the next Jasprit Bumrah?
I hope everyone becomes better than me. Siraj, Arshdeep, Bhavesh, Mukesh — go ahead and do even better.
Is the Indian cricket team overworked? Yes or no?
See, you have a small career. I would never say that. My stomach is full of cricket.
The one thing you would do if you were the ICC president for a day?
It would be interesting to have a T20 match with a red ball.
What is Jasprit Bumrah scared of?
Not really thought about it but yes, of anything that comes to my family... I'm very possessive about my family.
I THINK YOU HAVE A GOOD BUSINESS BRAIN. DO YOU SEE YOURSELF AS A BUSINESSMAN WITH A STARTUP?
THIS IS THE first time I've heard this. But yes, obviously, you think about all of those things. I've not really thought about having a startup, because you have to have a good idea first. My father was a businessman, so I know how a businessman's life is. If I have a good idea, I will let you know, and you can finance the idea.
— PIRUZ KHAMBATTA, Group Chairman, Rasna Group
JAMES ANDERSON RETIRED AFTER TWO DECADES. DO YOU INTEND TO CONTINUE FOR ABOUT A DECADE MORE AND BE BETTER KNOWN THAN HIM?
I DON'T KNOW what will happen after a decade. I want to enjoy whatever cricket I get. I'm not thinking of a particular number or a particular time. I want to give it my absolute best. Until my heart doesn't say no, I'm not going to stop.
— YAMAL VYAS, Chief Spokesperson, BJP, Gujarat
WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ABOUT THE INDIAN WOMEN'S CRICKET TEAM?
I'M VERY happy that they're doing really well. My wife is a sports presenter, she works a lot in cricket and she's passionate about women's cricket. She talks very highly about them and gets very emotional. I'm very happy to see them progressing and I wish them all the best and hopefully it grows even more.
— BINAISHA KHAMBATTA, Director, Rasna Foundation
"That is something that is not for me to decide. In my head, even when I started, I would always think that I'm very good. Because if I don't believe in myself, who else will? The narratives can change every now and then but in my head, I have a lot of confidence that I am good."
As a child, I fell in love with fast bowling and I wanted to make my team win.
"I am an advocate for bowlers. I understand that our country loves big batsmen and fair enough, but for me, bowlers drive the game. I come from a generation where test cricket used to be shown more on television and for me, till date, it's the greatest format because I feel that if I do well in that, all other formats will take care of themselves."
"Within our setup, there is no difference between a batsman and a bowler because all of us have to do a job — to make the team win. No, outside (our circle), people resonate with certain players, heroes who are batsmen. You cannot tell people to forcefully like bowlers."
I was inspired by watching a lot of bowlers doing well. I've never tried to create a narrative that bowlers have to be more important or the idea that 'promote us more, give us more limelight'.
"I didn't get a lot of formal training and my mother also didn't want me to play cricket till I finished Class X because she thought that I would not be able to focus on my education. So the only way that I could learn was through television."
As a child, I used to copy whoever took wickets because I didn't have my own proper action. I think that jumbled up and became something interesting that I have now! But yes, I was fascinated by left arm bowlers as well. I used to try and bowl with my left arm. I am ambidextrous, so I can do that but obviously there is a pace difference.
"I watched a lot of television and this delivery is like a cinematic thing, so for a youngster it's exciting. It's probably the first delivery I observed in cricket. That's how I developed it and when I came into serious cricket, I realised that I have a skill. But along with that I cannot be a one-trick pony."
"Because our sport is so popular and you're constantly trying to please the world, you can sometimes be too intense and hard on yourself. Sometimes when your family is a priority, you don't focus on all of those things and you're a little calm and relaxed."
You don't try too hard. You enjoy the game a little more. Obviously cricket is very important but family comes first. Then you're not over analysing, over thinking or over complicating things. So you're nice and relaxed, you play with a smile and enjoy the sport.
"Aggression has a lot of meanings. You could be calm and you can still be aggressive. You have to understand how you are as a person. You cannot try to copy someone. You have to find out what works for you. You can't be pretending to be aggressive because you'll be called out eventually."
I'm a fast bowler, I don't enjoy getting hit. When I was a youngster, I would get angry and then try to bowl very fast. That never worked for me as I would lose line and length, and that would not help the team.
So, I realised that it's not necessary to be angry or go overboard. How do I use it to my advantage? When my best performance comes, what is my mindset? So I am calm and relaxed. But yes, there is that competitive spirit to win. You're not there to just participate. That is there, but you have to find your own way. This works for me. There are many in our team who are aggressive and that works for them.
Question: "Our city needs a sports icon like you. Is it too early for you to have ambitions beyond cricket?"
"It's a little too early to be thinking about life after sport. I am passionate about the sport and I'd like to help it in the best way I can. But yes I live here, I'm from here and I started my journey from here, so I'd want to help as many people as I can when the time comes. I have not yet thought about it."
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In-depth conversation with India's premier fast bowler
Leading personalities from various fields participated
Local hero sharing insights in his home city