I stuck with my plans against Kings: Bumrah

Mumbai: Having a clear plan for in-form batsmen like Lokesh Rahul and just focusing on executing it did the trick, said Mumbai Indians seamer Jasprit Bumrah after he helped his side beat Kings XI Punjab in an IPL match here.

Bumrah snapped up three crucial wickets as defending champions Mumbai Indians kept their play-off hopes alive by notching up a thrilling three-run win here on Wednesday. “To have a clear plan is very important whenever you bowl. I plan and I back myself in whichever situation I’m bowling. I was just focusing on that and it was a good day, so it went well,” Bumrah said.

“We already knew he (Rahul) had been batting well throughout the tournament. In the bowlers’ meeting we usually talk about every player. We were bowling second and I had a chat with (bowling coach) Shane Bond and (mentor Lasith) Malinga that there would be dew,” said Bumrah, who produced a brilliant bowling display to take 3/15.

Man-of-the-match Bumrah’s most important scalp was that of Rahul (94 off 64), who was poised to guide KXIP to victory, by having the opener caught at long off in the penultimate over when 20 runs were needed. “I was not focusing on who was scared and who was not scared. I was just focusing on what I had to do. On a good day, when you have a clear plan, you are able to execute whatever you wanted. So it worked for me. On some days, it doesn’t work,” he said.

Bumrah was referring to the 111-run second-wicket partnership between Rahul and Aaron Finch that was threatening to take KXIP home before the India pace bowler his side the crucial breakthrough.

On MI’s spectacular comeback into reckoning after a poor beginning in the first half of the tournament, Bumrah said they were closing out games which they had failed to do earlier in the season.