"I wasn't thinking about this being my first World Cup game, I was thinking of it as just another game of cricket," Bumrah said. © AFP

Jasprit Bumrah, a World Cup debutant, set the tone for India's six-wicket victory in the opening round against South Africa with his mean opening spell of fiery fast bowling. After South Africa elected to bat first in what was already their third game of the tournament, India's new-ball bowler took out the dangerman Quinton de Kock and the reliable Hashim Amla in his first three overs. His figures at the end of the opening spell read: 5-0-13-2 with 23 dot balls in it.

Bumrah ultimately finished the game with 2 for 35 and no more wickets, but set the pace early as South Africa failed to recover from the early jolts and, mesmerised by Yuzvendra Chahal, were restricted to just 227 for 9.

Bumrah could have hardly asked for a better way to start off his World Cup journey, and yet the seamer was just relieved to help India open with a win. His match figures were the most economical ten-over spell in the edition so far, but he noted that not allowing the magnitude of the occasion get to him was what helped him deliver in bowler-friendly conditions.

"I wasn't thinking about this being my first World Cup game, I was thinking of it as just another game of cricket," Bumrah said after India, finally, launched their World Cup campaign in Southampton on Wednesday (June 5). "I tried to focus on what I always do. It was nice to have little bit of help [from the pitch]. When you have some help, don't try to do too much. Just bowl good hard lengths, that was the plan and I tried to stick to it.

"We were just thinking about what our strengths are and what we could do as a bowling unit. The pitch offered a little help, so we were trying to use that to our advantage.

"You always want to start well in a big tournament like this. When you do, it's a positive for the team and you don't have to play catch-up. If start is slow, you are always catching up, but we prepared well and it's very satisfying to start with a win."

Bumrah also said that equally vital in helping India open with a comfortable victory was Rohit Sharma's atypical century that formed the backbone of the chase. The opener guided a tricky chase with his 23rd ODI hundred - a 144-ball 122 - on a seaming, bouncy track to help India wrap up proceedings with 15 balls to spare.

"Rohit also played very well, he anchored the innings throughout. On not the easiest wicket, he played for 45 overs, so that's a very good sign for us. We'll gain so much confidence in the first game, said the pacer.

Bumrah's rapid ascent to the top of the ODI rankings for bowlers, in just over three years since first playing for the country in January 2016 in Australia, further highlights his value to the Indian set-up. Since his ODI debut, no bowler has taken more wickets in death overs than Bumrah's 44. The 25-year-old credits his willingness to adapt and learn from the best in the business as the key to success in his short international career thus far.

"You can learn from any bowler in the world," Bumrah said. "Whether that's a first-class game or an international. I always keep an eye on what is happening all over, so that maybe I can learn and add things to my armoury. There's no harm in learning. For example, if you tell me there's a perfect action in the world, I'll try to copy that. Every fast bowler faces injury issues so I just maintain what I have and try to make my body strong."

India next take on Australia, on Sunday (June 9) at The Oval in London.