IND vs ENG: "We do have to score runs off him as well" - Ben Stokes on Jasprit Bumrah

England captain Ben Stokes urged his team to have individual game plans to counter Team India’s veteran speedster Jasprit Bumrah in the third Test at Rajkot, starting February 15. However, Bumrah has been in stunning form in the Test series so far, with 15 wickets at an average of 10.66. His 6/45 in the first innings of the second Test helped India to have a match-winning lead of 143 runs, and the speedster bagged another three wickets in the final innings to help India level the five-match series at 1-1 as well.

Speaking at the press conference ahead of the third Test, Stokes said, “Jasprit Bumrah is an unbelievable bowler. He’s proven that for a very long time and has performed really well in the two games. I think everyone has got their own way of trying to deal with Bumrah but we do have to score runs off him as well and that’s what we’ll try to do.”

He continued: “But when that doesn’t work you just have to give credit to the bowler and Jasprit’s been outstanding the first two games. We’ve all got our own processes against every single bowler and there’s no team way of playing anyone. But as we always try to do we’ll be trying to keep the focus around us.”

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However, during the second Test, Jasprit Bumrah became the fastest Indian pacer to scale 150 Test wickets. Meanwhile, Ben Stokes will be playing his 100th Test in Rajkot, yet he downplayed the occasion as well.

“I’m looking forward to getting the presentation done and dusted, then everything can be on the cricket. I’m proud to say that I’ve been able to play a part in 100 Tests, because it’s quite a lot – it’s a lot of warm-ups. It’s one more game and hopefully there’s a lot more to come. There have been some great times in an England shirt and some not so great times. That is what’s great about professional sport. I’ve been able to make sure every day is a learning day, whether it be good or bad. Later down the line, when I’m a bit older and maybe not playing, is when I’ll have more of a chance to reflect on everything I’ve done on the field,” he again added.

The veteran will become the 16th England player to represent the country in 100 Tests. And, Stokes is only three wickets away from becoming the third cricketer to achieve the double of 6,000 runs and 200 wickets after Jacques Kallis and Sir Garfield Sobers as well.

“1-1 is a fair reflection of the cricket that has been played in the first two games. The focus is on this game and then everything after that. If we play anywhere near to our capability, we’ll give ourselves a good chance of winning. If we do play good cricket, then the results looks after themselves,” concluded Ben Stokes.