Should Jasprit Bumrah play in all three formats for India?
In just a little over three years, Jasprit Bumrah has marked himself as one of the very best in the game. A complex release, an awkward run-up, an unorthodox slingy action, and the ability to bowl with pin-point accuracy makes him a dreadful force.
Consistent performances at the domestic set-up justified his national call. In 47 T20s, he had bagged 52 wickets at an economy of just a little above 7 till that point. 24 wickets in 14 games at an average of 14.75 and an economy rate of 6.61 in 2015 and 2016 editions of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and 34 wickets in 14 games at an average of 15.20 and an economy rate of 3.82 in two seasons of the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy was more than enough to grab spotlights.
“I could bowl and bowl and bowl. When you see the stumps flying, that’s the best feeling.”
Find out how Jasprit Bumrah became one of the most feared fast bowlers in the world.#CWC19 | #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/y1NZj3Crhd
— ICC (@ICC) June 22, 2019
When he came to the scene for the first time in 2016, he was primarily considered to be a limited-overs bowler. He debuted in the limited-overs format for India in 2016 and two years of reliable performance earned him a spot in the Test side in 2018. His current statistics are good enough to impress anyone. In 14 Tests, he has 68 wickets at an average of 20.33 and 5 five-wicket hauls to his name. 104 wickets in 64 ODIs at an average of 24.43 and a brilliant economy of 4.55 and 59 wickets in 50 T20Is at an average of 20.25 and a career economy of 6.66 in the deadliest format for bowlers.
Bumrah’s numbers suggest that he is not a one-format wonder but a dependable bowler in each format. The questions, however, revolve around his fitness and ability to sustain for a long duration in all the formats. Bumrah’s action is undeniably injury-prone one and not one but many cricketing pundits, experts, and former pacers have opined that he is not a player who will last for as many years as James Anderson.
Can he be an all-format player?
As far as the skills are concerned, the answer to the question is a loud yes. There is nothing that Bumrah, the bowler, does not have to not play in all three formats for India. He has not faced too many problems related to fitness thus far in his career, apart from minor injuries that are bound to happen in any fast bowler’s career.
Over the years, many bowlers have altered their run-ups and action to evade or lessen the chances of injuries. The biggest asset in Bumrah’s case, however, is his action and run-up and therefore any change in that might prove detrimental for him. He is only 26 and the fitness culture in team India has only risen in the last half of the decade. A bowler with Bumrah’s versatility and skill is too good to not be playing in all three formats of the game and he must play.
