- People closely following international cricket right from true connoisseurs to experts to crazy fans would unequivocally vouch that ace Indian pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been an outstanding performer in all formats of the game. Cricket experts/fans would be perplexed by the unorthodox bowling action of Bumrah delivered with an awkward angle and at such a short runup, unlike conventional pace bowlers. The pace generated by Bumrah is exceptional and he can also make the ball swing in both directions making it that much more challenging for the batsmen facing the music. He is also accurate with nary a loose delivery bowled to the batsmen eager to get on with the game. Little wonder, batters around the world respect Bumrah for what he has to offer.
PC:Al Jazeera
- As you are aware, Bumrah’s exploits in the field of cricket in the longest format are nothing short of perpetually exceptional performances. His oeuvre with the ball in hand simply takes away the pitch conditions out of the equation by delivering with great aplomb whenever the team looks up to the freaky bowler. The way Bumrah performed in the recently concluded five-match Test series Down Under is a lesson in extraordinary talent delivering on the most important stage with such terrific effect. Rightly, he was named the player of the series for scalping 32 wickets at an unbelievable average and strike rate. Unfortunately, recurring back trouble disallowed Bumrah from bowling in the last innings of the last Test as a precautionary measure.
PC:Cricket Country
- While he is recuperating on the advice of the doctors to rest the troublesome back, the announcement of his being chosen as the Sir Garfield Sobers ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year for outstanding performance across the formats – he joins the august company of Rahul Dravid, Sahin Tendulkar, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Virat Kohli (twice), is most welcome. Welcomingly, he also won the ICC Test Player of the Year which must have warmed the cockles of innumerable fans, supporters, and officials alike. It must be mentioned that Bumrah is a once-in-a-century talent and must be preserved to play for as long as possible. However, the history of injuries that the bowler has encountered in his career so far indicates that he should be handled carefully.
PC:Mumbai Indians
Of course, workload management is often heard from the selectors and the support staff especially when the modern-day cricketers play almost around the year. Thrown in between is the cash-rich lucrative Indian Premier League offering tons of money when the franchises go for the earmarked player. Bumrah has been a regular performer for the Mumbai Indians, and he would not wish to miss the IPL. The question arises as to how the bowler would be ready to deliver for Team India consistently knowing fully well about his dicey fitness issues. That’s for the BCCI mandarins and the selectors to decide. But what Indian fans wish is to ensure Bumrah is available for every Team India assignment to bamboozle the opponents. Let’s hope he remains fit enough.
