NEWS
Follow UsIndian skipper Jasprit Bumrah was all praise for former captain Virat Kohli and rising batting star Yashasvi Jaiswal, after both of them scored centuries in India’s second innings at Perth and played an important role in guiding the team home to a historic win at the Optus Stadium on November 25 (Monday).
"I have said this before, Virat Kohli doesn't need us, we need him. This is his fourth or fifth tour. So he knows his cricket better than anyone else. He looked in good shape, he was mentally switched on,” Bumrah said in the post-match press conference on Monday.
Kohli, who got out for a duck in the first innings, was in terrible form leading up to this series, averaging 15.50 in six innings at home against New Zealand.
However, India’s stand-in skipper defended the former captain saying, “He got a good delivery in the first innings, but he was still in a great space and he capitalised in the second innings.”
Kohli, who scored his 30th Test ton, first after July 2023 and first in 16 innings, also had fantastic stands with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Washington Sundar and Nitish Reddy to bat Australia out of the contest.
While Kohli scored only unbeaten 100, he added a total of 212 runs along with five different partners to take India to 487/6 and setting Aussies an almost impossible target of 534 to achieve.
Bumrah praised the senior batter for stitching important stands and boosting other batters’ confidence.
“He helped his partners play as well. So obviously, when he gets confidence at the start of the series, you can't ask for more than that,” Bumrah said.
Jaiswal, who was bowled for a duck in the second innings, made a stunning effort in the second, scoring 161 off 297 balls and thereby becoming only the second batter after former South Africa skipper Greame Smith.
“The way he played in the last innings was probably his best Test innings so far because he left the ball. He has an attacking nature, but he left the ball well and played long. That really helped us,” Bumrah said about Jaiswal’s knock.
Pat Cummins, the Australian skipper was not too worried about the team combinations, heading into the Day-Night Test at Adelaide.
"Four or five days ago we thought this was our best eleven. So I dare say there won't be many changes going into Adelaide, but I'm not a selector. I'm sure they'll get together after the game,” said the 31-year-old.
Giving credit to India for their brilliant display to win only their second Test in the city of Perth and the first at the Optus Stadium, Cummins said, “"I don't think prep was the issue. We were outplayed this week."
"A lot of the guys played some (Sheffield) Shield cricket and some Aussie A games for a couple of guys as well. A lot of us have played a lot of Test cricket and always feel like you're pretty ready,” he added.
If you’ve not downloaded the Cricket.com app yet, you’re missing out on our content — big time. Download the App here
