Rohit Sharma always backed me, gave me the freedom to do what I wanted at Mumbai Indians: Jasprit Bumrah
India Today
Jasprit Bumrah said Rohit Sharma's trust in him helped him a lot through his early years at Mumbai Indians, saying he still shares a wonderful relationship with his India captain.
Jasprit Bumrah said Rohit Sharma backing during the early stages of his career at Mumbai Indians helped hm develop confidence and evolve as a bowler. Bumrah said he started playing for the 5-time champions in the Indian Premier League regularly under Rohit's captaincy after getting picked by MI as early as 2013.
Speaking to R Ashwin on his YouTube show, Bumrah said his relationship with Rohit has been the same from the early stages of his career and the trust the skipper had in him played a big role in his career. The highly-rated India fast bowler said the relationship has evolved to a stage where Rohit allows him to have control over his field placements and bowling plans for Mumbai Indians.
Bumrah made his IPL debut in 2013 but he became a regular fixture of MI's plans only in 2016 after making his India debut. The Gujarat fast bowler has grown to become an integral member of the Mi side, picking up 130 wickets in 106 matches at an impressive average of 23.03.
"It's been very good (Relationship) since the early days. When I came into the side, Ricky Ponting was the captain but I was not playing regularly. But under Rohit, I did. He had a lot of confidence in me, he instilled confidence," Bumrah said.
"He saw me bowling in the nets and the skills that I have. He always backed me, told me to believe in myself. Whenever in the initial stages as well, he had a lot of trust in me. He would give me the important overs. It's been the same relationship.
"Now we have reached a stage he doesn't even tell me things. He will tell 'you set the field on your own, if you have any changes, tell me, I will do that'. He has had that trust because I have made things work. Somedays, things might not go well, but he always has kept the atmosphere in our team very simple and calm.
"Under him, I have got the freedom to do whatever I want. That has really helped me."
