Jasprit Bumrah: Redefining the fast bowler’s era
Jasprit Bumrah is 25 years old. Doesn’t it feel like he’s been bowling forever? That finesse, that exuberance and that saint-like maturity – qualities you don’t expect from a cricketer of his age. You see him speaking in post-match interviews, and you get the sense he’s had years of bowling experience. He looks like a seasoned campaigner – in blues, in whites, in India, outside India. He’s bowling fast and running away faster with all the admiration from around the world. There’s no denying the fact that this lanky kid from Ahmedabad is right up there, among the greatest breed of fast bowlers to have ever bowled. And he’s just 25.
What makes Bumrah special?
Indian cricket fans love it when their favourite cricketers perform well. But what they love more is how these players carry themselves on and off the field. Bumrah means business when he’s bowling. Even when he’s up against the captain of his own national team in the IPL. But his demeanour is pleasing to the eye. The way he conducted himself in moments of despair during the IPL final against the Chennai Super Kings made him truly special.
It is perhaps why the fans collectively forgave Bumrah for bowling a criminal no-ball in the 2017 Champions Trophy final against Pakistan. He was learning the hard way. Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar feared that Bumrah would be remembered for his no-ball for a long time, despite having bowled fantastically in the whole tournament. Thankfully, he’s known for far better things now.
Fast bowler’s delight
It’s not just his speed that makes him a force to reckon with. Bumrah’s ability to assess the match situation and pick deliveries from his bucketful of variations sets him apart from most bowlers. He’s not your regular fast bowler with an aggressive run-up that would scare batsmen. He’s in fact, just the opposite. He jogs a bit, then picks up pace and bowls with the most unconventional high-arm sling action. He can bowl a slower, dipping yorker with as much ease as a toe-crushing one. His controlled bouncers can surprise the best batsmen. And he’s one of the few bowlers in world cricket at the moment who can swing the ball both ways.
Even when he’s not among the wickets, his ability to contain runs at one end and consistently bowl those dot balls makes him a lethal weapon. With an unusual action and a mysterious release point, batsmen often have a tough time reading his next delivery.
Rise to dominance
Over the last couple of years, Bumrah has evolved into an out-and-out fast bowler in all three formats of the game. Though his rise as a white-ball death over specialist began much earlier in 2016. MS Dhoni called him the ‘find of the tour’ after India’s ODI and T20I tour of Australia that year.
Although playing second fiddle to Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Bumrah has managed to carve out a niche for himself in India’s limited-overs setup. In his last 12 ODIs, he’s taken 21 wickets. What catches the eyes is his economy of 4.11, much better in comparison to Bhuvi (5.10) and Mohammed Shami (5.45).
In Tests, he had a fabulous debut year, capping off 3 five-wicket hauls in 3 of the SENA nations – South Africa, England and Australia. It’s not a mean feat by any stretch of the imagination. 48 wickets in his debut year of Test cricket – no other Indian bowler has ever achieved it.
Debut World Cup
The 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup will be Bumrah’s first. He looks prepared. And he’s had a fabulous IPL season with the Mumbai Indians. The Indian team will be relying heavily on his variations on good batting pitches in England. He may not be the official leader of the pack yet, but he’s still the world’s no.1 ranked ODI bowler. India are mostly known to be batting heavyweights, especially this World Cup with a formidable Top 3. But a bowling attack that’s probably as good as any other team in the world is going to make all the difference. And it’s because of this man.
