For someone who’s played all around the world, Jasprit Bumrah’s answer to “favorite city” was never going to be a simple touristy pick.
The India pacer, currently in the thick of IPL 2025 playoffs with Mumbai Indians, opened up on Michael Clarke’s podcast and picked Adelaide — not for the food, beaches, or lifestyle. It all came down to cricket.
Bumrah, who will be in action against Gujarat Titans in the Eliminator on May 30, revealed a surprising and refreshingly honest reason behind his choice.
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But it wasn’t just nostalgia or scenic memories. It had everything to do with the pitch, the shape of the ground, and his own craft as a bowler.
‘Boundaries are straight, no dew’ — Bumrah keeps it real on why he loves Adelaide
Bumrah’s logic was sharp, just like his bowling. When Clarke asked him about Adelaide being a popular pick among cricketers, Bumrah didn’t hesitate.
“City is Adelaide because that’s where I made my T20 debut,” he said. “I made my ODI debut at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Yes, Sydney as a city was great… this time I took my family to Australia as well, we did a lot of wildlife activities. My son was feeding the kangaroos — it’s a brilliant city, brilliant country to roam around. But in terms of the ground, Adelaide because the boundaries are straight, so that helps. That is the only reason.”
He added, “There is no dew. I’ve never played on a ground at night where there’s no dew. So yeah, that’s a bowler-friendly ground in terms of boundaries. So that is why I like that most.”
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It wasn’t some emotional monologue. Just a pure cricketing reason. A bowler picking his favorite city based on angles and conditions. Classic Bumrah.
Even Clarke couldn’t help but point it out: “There’s a good example of your love for cricket — your favorite city is based on your favorite cricket ground.” Bumrah just smiled. Through and through, a bowler.