NEW DELHI: India’s eight-wicket victory over Afghanistan came with 15 overs to spare but pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah denied it was a planned ploy to boost their net run-rate in the World Cup group stage.

Indian 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.

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.

Net run-rate could come into play later in the tournament, but Bumrah denied it was a factor in India’s performance against Afghanistan.

“Not at all. We are not looking at it from the beginning [of the event]. Besides we did not know that Rohit will give us such a headstart,” Bumrah told reporters.

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

Bumrah claimed figures of 4-39 to help restrict Afghanistan to 272-8.

Asked to rate his performance, the 29-year-old said he had learnt not to measure success with 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.”

India play Pakistan in the tournament’s most-anticipated match at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s biggest cricket arena with a 130,000 capacity in Ahmedabad on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Bumrah said seeing his mother again takes priority over the blockbuster clash against arch-rivals Pakistan.

Family matters come first for the 29-year-old.

“I’ve been away for a while now. I’ll be happy to see my mother at home,” said the pacer.

Bumrah was raised by his school principal mother Daljit after his father died suddenly just before he turned five. “I’m going to see her. That’s the first basic thing for me.”

Only then will Bumrah focus on facing Pakistan on a ground where he has yet to play an ODI although he is more than familiar with the imposing arena as it is the home of his Gujarat IPL team.

“I have not played a one-dayer there but I have played a Test match.

“The atmosphere is going to be exciting. I’m sure a lot of people are going to come. So, it will be a sight to see. So yeah, hoping for the best over there.”

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2023