“When you are captaining, you think more about the team and not just your own performance”, Jasprit Bumrah after winning the 1st T20I against Ireland.

The Indian pacers showcased their skill against Ireland in the first T20I at the Malahide Cricket Club Ground in Dublin, with captain Jasprit Bumrah taking a prominent role. Bumrah, returning to international cricket after recovering from a lower-back stress fracture that kept him sidelined for almost 11 months, made a significant impact in the opening over. He claimed the crucial wickets of Andrew Balbirnie and Lorcan Tucker, setting the tone for the match.In addition to his impactful first over, Bumrah’s performance was highlighted by a remarkable 19th over where he conceded just one run.

This exceptional display led him to finish with figures of 2/24 in four overs. India managed to secure victory by a narrow margin of two runs using the DLS method, and Bumrah’s exceptional contribution earned him the title of Player of the Match.When questioned about his feelings returning to the game after a lengthy absence, Bumrah expressed that he wasn’t overly nervous. He emphasized his focus on the team’s success, given his leadership role within the side.

Bumrah in the post match presentation said “Not really, when you are captaining you are thinking more about the whole team and not just your own performance. Very happy that the weather was helpful for the bowlers. In every game you want more and you always search for a perfect game. Credit to them (Ireland) as well for keeping their nerves in a crisis.”