'I tried to push to bowl fast..' - Jasprit Bumrah recalls infamous saga with James Anderson in 2021

One of the moments of the 2021 Test series that stood out was Jasprit Bumrah's highly aggressive approach against James Anderson at Lord’s. In a crucial situation with just one wicket left, Bumrah unleashed a series of bouncers that targeted Anderson's ribcage, helmet and left hand. Adding to the challenge, the pacer bowled a ten-ball over, including four no-balls, creating additional pressure on Anderson, who struggled to get off the mark.

Discussing the entire series of events, Bumrah shared that he approached Anderson in the middle of the over to inquire about his well-being, but the 41-year-old's response was not positive. The cricketer from Ahmedabad further mentioned that the incident stirred up several memories from the past and also fueled frustration within the entire team.

“I was tired, I thought the last wicket was there, I tried to push to bowl fast. I went up to him (mid-over), asked ‘Are you OK?’ and didn’t get a good response. So that brought back some young memories; of trying to be the nice guy and it not being taken well. And it triggered the whole team. It was red mist but it was channeled. Fighting and playing is second nature to us; controlling that is self-taught,” said the star India bowler to The Guardian.

I did one game and it was the utmost honour: Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah has been appointed as the vice-captain for the upcoming five-match series against England. Having previously captained India in the rescheduled fifth Test against the Three Lions in July 2022, Bumrah expressed his willingness to take on the role once more. Reflecting on his experience leading the national team at Edgbaston, the pacer described it as the 'utmost honour.'

“I did one game and it was the utmost honour. Playing Test cricket is great, captaining was even better. Yes, we lost but we were ahead in the match and I loved the responsibility. Sometimes as a fast bowler you go down to fine leg and switch off but I loved being involved in every decision, right in the thick of things. And given the opportunity, of course, who wouldn’t?” Bumrah said.