Bumrah: Playing with confidence without being reckless will be our motive while batting

On India's bowling success on day one, Bumrah said that good communication amongst the bowlers helped India seize the advantage in Melbourne Test.

Jasprit Bumrah celebrates the dismissal of Nathan Lyon in Melbourne on Saturday.

Jasprit Bumrah, who starred with the ball with a four-wicket haul on Saturday, said that good communication amongst the bowlers helped India seize the advantage on day one of the second Test at Melbourne.

The Gujarat pacer has quickly become the leader of the attack and was often talking to the bowlers especially the debutant Mohammed Siraj.

“We decided everyone was going to help each other and do good communication on the ground with regards to how the wicket is changing and what the batsman is doing. That was the motive for that,” said Bumrah.

Commenting on India’s game plan of trying to squeeze the Australian batsman with a heavy leg-side field that came under praise from Australian batsman Marnus Labuchagne, Bumrah said,

“There was a constant discussion going on between the bowlers and the captain. The wicket changed after the first session and got better to bat on after the moisture dried out. When there was less help, we tried to change the line and set fields accordingly.”

READ: Indian bowlers kept us under pressure - Labuschagne

Explaining the strategy of using spinner early as the first-change when R. Ashwin was introduced in the first hour of play, Bumrah said: “There was some moisture on the wicket, so you saw Ashwin and Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja) got some spin. We wanted to make the most of the moisture, we were trying to use them, and Ashwin was getting good bounce as well.”

The 26-year-old pacer also praised debutant Siraj for his efforts after getting two crucial wickets of Labuchagne and Cameron Green.

READ: Bumrah, Ashwin, Siraj make it India's day

“He was eager to bowl in the first session itself. When he started after lunch, there wasn’t a lot happening but he bowled with a lot of control.”

“Then he started getting some movement and tried to make the best of it. He bowled well and had the confidence in using all his skills,” Bumrah added.

With India 159 runs behind and nine-wickets in hand, Bumrah said the plan for the batting unit is to stay positive without being reckless.

“We don’t want to be conservative in our mindset but be positive. Not being reckless but playing with confidence will be the motive going forward.”