“If I were to think we’ll lose, I might make mistakes”: Jasprit Bumrah explains his mind set to PM Modi

Bumrah shares mindset with PM (Video Grab)

Following the historic T20 World Cup victory in Barbados, Jasprit Bumrah and his teammates had the honour of meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence in New Delhi.

During the meeting, Bumrah shared insights into his mindset and approach to bowling in high-pressure situations. "Whenever I bowl for India, I bowl in the crucial overs, be it the new ball or old,” he said. “Whenever the situation is tough, I’m called on to bowl and I feel happy when I’m able to help the team get through the tough overs. It gives me a lot of confidence, I carry that confidence throughout my overs. In this tournament, there were a lot of situations where I was supposed to bowl the tough overs and I could help the team and help win the matches."

The Prime Minister, intrigued by Bumrah's composure, asked how he remained calm during the stressful death overs. Bumrah's response highlighted his focus and mental strength. "If I were to think we’ll lose or that I have to do something extra or I were to look at the crowd and get nervous, then I might make mistakes,” he said. “So, I just focus on myself and think about what I need to do and think back on what I did well in previous situations where I helped the team. I try to remember those things and try and give my best."

Bumrah took 15 wickets in eight matches, at a scarcely believable economy rate of 4.17. That included overs 16 and 18 in the final, when he conceded just six, and dismissed Marco Jansen.

In a lighter moment, PM Modi inquired if Bumrah had missed traditional Indian food during the tournament. "We didn’t get any Idlis or Paranthas in the West Indies and tried to make do with what we had,” replied Bumrah with a smile. “But it was a great tour, we travelled back-to-back, and as a team, it was a great tournament. We (this team) won the World Cup for the first time, and never experienced this intensity of emotions before. It’s a proud feeling, and I’ve never experienced anything better than this."

The meeting was made even more special with the presence of Bumrah's wife, Sanjana Ganesan, and their son, Angad. Heartwarming pictures of PM Modi holding Bumrah's son quickly went viral, capturing a beautiful moment of celebration and unity.