After their second loss at the T20 World Cup, fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah said that India are struggling from ‘bubble fatigue’ amid the Covid-19 pandemic and the players are feeling the effects of being on the road for six months.
India slumped to fifth in Group II after losing to New Zealand on Sunday and even winning the remaining three matches may not be enough to earn a place in the semi-finals.
“Well, you are playing for India, everything has got to recede into the background. It’s as simple as that. Playing for India is an unbelievable privilege,” Gavaskar said on India Today.
“It’s a huge honour to represent your country because there are millions who want to get the India cap. So you are really privileged to do that. There should be no real excuse.
“You have got to go out there and give it your best. And that’s all the fans are expecting. We all know you can’t win every game,” he added.
The players have been on the road since the IPL season began in April. The test team also toured England before the Covid-hit IPL resumed in the United Arab Emirates in September.
“Absolutely, sometimes you need a break. You miss your family. You’ve been on the road for six months,” said Bumrah after the New Zealand match.
“So all of that sometimes play on the back of your mind. But when you’re on the field, you don’t think of all those things … Obviously, staying in a bubble and staying away from your family for such a long period of time does play a role.
“The BCCI also tried their best to make us feel comfortable … It’s a difficult time. There’s a pandemic going on, so we try to adapt but sometimes bubble fatigue, mental fatigue also creeps in,” added Bumrah.
However, former India captain agreed that this Indian side is a champion team and they will have to sort out why they are not doing well in the ICC tournaments.
“In sport, you are going to lose some. Even great teams lose. Make no mistake, this Indian team is a great, top, champion team.
“But only in the multi-country tournaments, they have not done well. That is something they have to do and not talk of anything else,” he said.
