Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
New Zealand batter Glenn Phillips acknowledged Jasprit Bumrah’s brilliance but said the India pace spearhead is “human” and hoped for an off day from him in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final.
Bumrah has been one of India’s most influential players in the ongoing ICC tournament, delivering match-winning spells throughout the campaign. His control at the death and ability to execute yorkers under pressure have made him a constant threat for opposition batters.
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Phillips, however, believes even the best bowlers can have difficult days and New Zealand will be ready to capitalise if the opportunity arises.
“Bumrah is a fantastic bowler. He’s got so many variations. He hits the blockhole at the death incredibly well. You know, and he’s human as well. He is allowed to have a bad day, as are the rest of us. So hopefully we have a good day against him,” Phillips said.
Arguably the finest all-format bowler of his generation, Bumrah once again demonstrated his class in India’s thrilling semi-final win over England at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
In a run-fest that produced 449 runs and 34 sixes, Bumrah stood out with figures of 1 for 33 from his four overs, keeping the England batters under control during key phases of the match.
India opener Sanju Samson, who was named Player of the Match, described Bumrah as a “once-in-a-generation” bowler and said the pacer was equally deserving of the award.
Bumrah has been India’s standout performer during the tournament, producing decisive spells against Pakistan, South Africa, West Indies and England, particularly excelling in the death overs.
Phillips admitted England had tried to limit Bumrah’s impact in the semi-final by seeing off his overs while targeting other bowlers.
“The way England played him yesterday, in terms of trying to take on the last two overs, and give themselves as much of a chance as possible. That was the tactic that they’d employed.”
The New Zealand batter emphasised that his team cannot simply look to survive Bumrah’s spell and must seize any scoring opportunities if the Indian quick misses his mark.
“It’s not necessarily going to be that, per se. As I said, a bowler is allowed to miss, and if he happens to miss, we do have to put it away. That also means that if he does bowl well, we do have to, I guess, accommodate for other things and adapt.”
With the title on the line, New Zealand will hope Bumrah has a rare off day – but history suggests the Indian spearhead seldom grants such luxury.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
