"Whenever I meet Richard, I tell him you could have given that out" - Jasprit Bumrah on close LBW call in 2023 World Cup final
Team India's Jasprit Bumrah was recently asked to name an umpire's decision which he still feels was wrong. The ace speedster joked that he often reminds Richard Kettleborough of Marnus Labuschagne surviving an LBW decision due to umpire's call in the 2023 ODI World Cup final between India and Australia.
The Men in Blue had their backs onto the wall after being bundled for just 240 in final. Mohammed Shami drew first blood for India, dismissing David Warner in the second over.
Bumrah gave the Indian fans more hope with an inspired opening spell, getting rid of Mitchell Marsh and Steve Smith early. However, Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne formed a 192-run partnership for the fourth wicket, taking the game away from Rohit Sharma and Co.
Labuschagne survived an LBW call in the 28th over off Bumrah's bowling. The right-handed batter was hit on the pads while trying to play a flick shot. India opted for the DRS after Kettleborough adjudged it not out.
The ball-tracking showed that the ball would have gone on to just clip the leg stump and the on-field umpire's decision was upheld. Bumrah mentioned that he still tells Kettleborough that he could have given Labuschagne out.
Speaking on The Indian Express' Express Adda, Bumrah said (from 1:25:44):
"I got an umpire's call on Marnus Labuschagne. Whenever I meet Richard, I tell him you could have given that out."
India entered the 2023 World Cup final unbeaten. However, their juggernaut came to a screeching halt with a six-wicket defeat to Australia in the summit clash at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
"I cannot go to the team and say now you have to make me captain" - Jasprit Bumrah on fast bowlers not being given enough captaincy opportunities
In the aforementioned show, Jasprit Bumrah also spoke about fast bowlers not getting enough chances to lead a team in international cricket.
He emphasized that bowlers are smart campaigners, as they constantly think about plotting dismissals. The 30-year-old highlighted that bowlers have to do the tough job on the field, cheekily remarking that they don't have the luxury to hide behind a bat.
The star pacer said (from 28:26):
"That is something that I don't decide. I cannot go to the team and say now you have to make me captain. I don't have that much power and it is above my pay grade. But I feel the bowlers are the smart people because they have to get the batsmen out and we are always fighting the odds because the grounds are shorter, the bats are better, I don't remember any article or any technology coming that okay, we are helping the bowlers to swing the ball a lot more."
"Because bowlers are fighting the odds and have to do the hard job, we are not hiding behind a bat, we are not hiding behind a flat wicket, we are right in the firing line. When we lose a game, it is usually the bowlers that are being blamed."
Bumrah pointed out how fast bowlers like Kapil Dev and Imran Khan have been World Cup-winning captains, while Pat Cummins has also thrived in the role for the Australian team, adding (from 29:51):
"Leadership requires you to be brave. We have seen Pat Cummins doing really well. When I was a child, had seen Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis captaining, Kapil Dev has won us a World Cup, Imran Khan has won a World Cup for Pakistan. So, bowlers are the smart ones, it's just that sometimes physically it's strainful for them so I can understand that leadership has gone to batsmen."
It is worth mentioning that Jasprit Bumrah captained India in the rescheduled fifth Test against England in 2022. He also was named the skipper for India's three-match T20I series against Ireland in 2023.