It has become a regular sight in cricket. Jasprit Bumrah smiles, India win, opponents stare at the brilliant pace bowling which defies confidence. Bumrah played a key role in India’s first series in Australia, crucial to India’s 2-1 series lead. England, and now impressive in settling this 113-run victory over South Africa, is the first step in their quest to conquer another elusive coast.
Helping Bumrah break this cricket ceiling was his long-time pace partner Mohammed Shami, who took eight wickets in the game to take India 1-0 in the three-Test series. Easily the world’s deadliest new ball pairing today, they blew the hosts away at a spot that is considered their fortress. South Africa have lost just three of the 27 Test matches played at Centurion. South Africa captain Dean Elgar was determined to defend the defence, defending everything that was thrown at him. But against Bumrah’s relentlessness, he was dismissed lbw for 77. After that it was only a matter of time.
talking to Indian ExpressJavagal Srinath, India’s last fast bowler to consistently clock over 140-kmph and dreaded by openers across the globe, says Bumrah is “definitely ahead” of him.
“Out of all the Indian pacers I have seen and played with, I would put him at the top. Certainly, ahead of me. A top-class bowler in world cricket, he has done enough to be in any Hall of Fame. Inswinger, straightener, leg cutter, bouncer, yorker, slow cutter – you name it, he has it. It has been a real pleasure to watch him bowl,” he says.
Srinath also shares the reason that makes him “Wah Wah”. “In West Indies, he looks like a West Indies bowler, in South Africa, he acts like a South African. It is the same in Australia or England. The lines and lengths, and angles of release, and the types of balls in each country’s conditions – minute turns that can go unnoticed – make him look like he’s been in that country for years. Like a home bowler,” he says.
Here comes great success!
Bumrah strikes and Dean Elgar is out for 77.#teamindia 5 wickets away from victory. #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/KhV5ZLKfst
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 30, 2021
Number back such praise. By any criterion, they are staggering: 106 wickets in 25 matches at an average and strike rate of 22.33 and 50.5; Five-wicket haul in Australia, England, South Africa and West Indies; a test hat-trick; And, man of the match plaques from all these countries.
In the nine matches India has won with Bumrah, he has taken 55 wickets at an average of 15.81 and has struck every 37th ball. It is no luck that India’s growth as a cricket superpower outside Asia coincided with the emergence of Bumrah.
Above all, he has reshaped the identity of Indian cricket. For a long time, it was considered a classic, for guilty spinners, before it came to be identified with virtuoso batsmen, technicians and stylists imbued with oriental charm. Now, the world is in awe of his fast-bowling wealth, and the jewel is Taj Bumrah. It can also be argued that their influence has been far greater than Virat Kohli, a nominal figure in contemporary Indian cricket, as India continues to win games overseas despite a long phase of captain’s indifferent form.
Jasprit Bumrah was the staple for India. (AP)
The vignettes of India’s fast bowlers were so short that they were all easily countable. like him Ishant Sharma magic against Ricky Ponting, or Sreesanth in Johannesburg, or Zaheer Khan in the oval. Bumrah has the skill and speed to piece together the more treasured fast-bowling moments than all of them. It speaks of his indomitable talent, just as it highlights India’s non-existent fast bowling legacy.
The world too has risen to a shower of exaggerations. West Indies legend Andy Roberts, thrifty in accolades and runs, sees him as one of his own. “He could have been one of us in our heyday,” he once told this newspaper. Another Caribbean totem, Curtly Ambrose, said he would “love to bowl” with Bumrah. Vivian Richards said he would love to face Dennis Lillee, and called Bumrah a “diamond in his arsenal”.
The not so easily attracted Australian crowd queued up for his autographs, jerseys, gloves and what not. He composed songs and not parodies for them, he waited for them as he once waited Sachin Tendulkar, England captain Joe Root wants his bowlers to learn ruthlessly from him.
In September, referring to Bumrah’s spell at The Oval that changed the game and led India to a famous victory, Root had said: “You look at that spell from Bumrah: he recognized a pivotal moment in the game and Turned it on his head. afternoon. It was a wonderful spell that really changed the game. If you’re throwing the ball, you’ve got to put a little bit between your teeth and turn the game.”
He also scripts eternal moments—the anti-physics curve-ball to Shaun Marsh, the yorker that blew up Jonny Bairstow’s stumps, the half-volley that stunned Ollie Pope, the laser-guided nip-backer that hit Rasie van der Doosan was shocked. All those moments have catalyzed memorable victories abroad. Melbourne, The Oval and Centurion – Milestones in India’s Sports History. There is a sense of accomplishment that will grow with the years when Bumrah did it.
This glow sometimes obscures the adventures of fellow Shami and Siraj. But it is his support that makes Bumrah, just as it is his support that makes him. It’s a luxury some of his predecessors only dreamed of.
Says Srinath: “The pressure and intensity of the attack created by Shami and Siraj, or Ishant earlier, has been great. The pressure just builds up and Bumrah comes back to attack more for his spells. He can be refreshed, he can be relaxed mentally, that he doesn’t need to do it himself, that he doesn’t need to throw too many overs and spend his energy. Fast bowling is all about conserving energy. He remains fresh and attacks ruthlessly when he comes back.”