Tim Seifert Reveals Strategy To Tackle Jasprit Bumrah Ahead of KKR vs MI Clash

Tim Seifert shares his mindset of focusing on the ball rather than Jasprit Bumrah’s reputation ahead of KKR’s IPL 2026 opener against Mumbai Indians.

New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert has opened up on his approach to counter Jasprit Bumrah ahead of Indian Premier League 2026. The Kiwi batter is set to feature for Kolkata Knight Riders in their season opener against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on March 29.

This contest will mark another chapter in Seifert’s battle against Bumrah, one of the most lethal fast bowlers in world cricket currently.

Lessons from T20 World Cup encounter

The upcoming clash brings back memories of the recent T20 World Cup final, where New Zealand struggled against India’s bowling attack. While Seifert stood out with a fighting half-century, Bumrah dismantled the batting lineup with a match-winning spell of 4/15.

Reflecting on that experience, Seifert acknowledged the challenge of facing Bumrah but stressed the importance of maintaining the right mindset.

“Yeah, Bumrah’s the best bowler in the world at the moment, so you’ve got to respect him. But at the same time, I think you just got to sometimes take away the name and react to that ball coming down. If you can put away the name that you’re facing and just react to the ball, that will put you in a better mindset than potentially playing Bumrah. So, I think that’s one aspect as well,” he told the Telegraph.

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“React to the ball, not the name” – Seifert’s mantra

Seifert further explained that overthinking the reputation of big players can add unnecessary pressure, especially in high-intensity tournaments like the IPL. Instead, he believes simplifying the approach can help players perform better under pressure.

“If you play the names, you’ll then get caught up in the headlights and put pressure on yourself. If you narrow it down, you take that pressure off yourself and just worry about how you go about the game, then that’s straightaway pressure off you. As I said, you’ve got to respect those players for who they are. But at the same time, you’ve just got to look to react and worry about that white ball coming down,” he added.

This will be Seifert’s second stint with Kolkata, having previously represented the franchise in 2021. With limited IPL experience so far, the New Zealand batter will be keen to make a strong impact this season, especially in a high-profile clash against Mumbai Indians.