India were not focused on Net Run Rate before Rohit Sharma’s headstart in win vs Afghanistan: Jasprit Bumrah

Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah denied that the net run rate was a factor in India’s comprehensive eight-wicket win over Afghanistan in the World Cup 2023 group match in Delhi.

India captain Rohit Sharma smashed 131 off 84 balls as the tournament hosts chased down a 273-run victory target in 35 overs on a good batting track at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday.

Although it may come to use later in the tournament, Bumrah denied that Rohit’s blazing hundred was a deliberate ploy to increase their net run-rate in the World Cup group stage. The hosts are only the third team to win their first two games and they are sandwiched between New Zealand and Pakistan at the top of the standings.

“Not at all. We are not looking at it from the beginning (of the tournament. (Besides) we did not know that Rohit would give us such a headstart,” Bumrah told reporters.

“I don’t think we had any such conversation so early in the tournament. Really happy with the way the game went and we finished it off.”

Bumrah claimed figures of 4 for 39 to assist in limiting Afghanistan to 272 for 8. When asked how he would rate his performance, the 29-year-old said he had learned not to measure success by the number of wickets he claimed.

“Look, I’m not result-oriented. Just because I’ve taken four wickets that doesn’t mean I’m very, very happy or I’ve done something extraordinary,” he said.

“I just go with my preparation. I go with the processes that I feel is right. I try to read the wicked and try to find the best answers.”