“I was nervous for sure, probably 200 percent nervous I would say” – Anuj Rawat recalls facing Jasprit Bumrah for the first time in the IPL

Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Anuj Rawat has recalled facing Jasprit Bumrah for the first time in the IPL. The left-hander admitted he was 200 percent nervous while facing the gun-fast bowler. 

Rawat has scored 318 runs in 24 IPL matches at an average of 19.88 and a strike rate of 119.1. Rawat faced 10 balls from Bumrah and scored seven runs off him, two leg-byes not included.

Rawat said on Manjot Kalra’s podcast, “I had never faced him before. That was the first time. I was nervous for sure, probably 200 percent nervous I would say.”

The southpaw revealed he planned with RCB batting coach Sanjay Bangar before facing Bumrah.

“Before that game against Mumbai Indians, our coach Sanjay [Bangar] sir had already sounded me off. He said ‘Agar Bumrah aaya, kya lagta hai, kya ball daalega? Kya karega? (What do you think Bumrah will bowl to you? What will he do?)’ I said, ‘He’ll bowl full, the length to flick the ball’. He said ‘Yes’, and literally that was the ball he bowled to me. He targeted my legs, but I worked it away for a couple of runs,” said Rawat.

“Like I said, Sanjay sir had already gotten me prepared, so I was settled but still, when you see Bumrah coming in, it does hit you a little.”

Rawat also recalled scoring his best score of 66 against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2022. The left-hander said the best part of that knock was the fact that Virat Kohli was at the non-striker end.

“As for the knock, the fifty gave me a lot of confidence and what made it special was when I got there, Virat Kohli was at the non-striker end. I had already played 3-4 games before that, but the comfort level got better and you get to know that we now belong here,” said Rawat.

Rawat will look to come up with an improved performance in the next season of the IPL.