Feb 8, 2024
TIMESOFINDIA.COM
Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah seems to be the out of syllabus puzzle in an equal contest as the pacer has taken pitch out of the equation on his return from injury, leaving rival batters stumped and experts raving.
Image Source: IANS
Unorthodox slinging action
When the wiry pacer burst into the scene in 2015, he was touted as the next Malinga. Given his unorthodox slinging action from a short run-up which created a lot of pressure on his shoulder and back.
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India in SENA countries
Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri decided to use him in Tests abroad, a decision that went a long way in India becoming a feared touring teams in South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia.
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The injury
The popular notion was that a breakdown was not too far away and the inevitable did happen. Bumrah had a back stress fracture which kept him out of cricket for almost a year in 2022-23.
Image Source: TNN
Bumrah 2.0
On his return, Bumrah once again proved he is one of a kind. In four Tests he's played since his return, Bumrah's average reads 11.66!
Image Source: IANS
Ridiculous average!
Bumrah has only played six Test matches in India, but his average at home on pitches which are not conducive for pace bowling is a ridiculous 13.6.
Image Source: PTI
The greatest ever?
Compare this to other Indian greats - Kapil Dev (26.49) and Zaheer Khan (35.87) - and you know what we're talking about.
Image Source: AFP
Incredibly special spell
On a beautiful batting pitch in Vizag, the spell that Bumrah produced in the second session of second day's play was incredibly special.
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Greatest spell of pace bowling
Bumrah removed the classy Joe Root, in-form Ollie Pope and Jonny Bairstow and the spell was at par with some of the greatest spells of pace bowling that have been bowled in India in the last 40 years.
Image Source: Reuters
No. 1 Test bowler
Match figures of 9/91 along with the Man of the Match award on a pitch that was supposed to help spinners went a long way in Bumrah becoming the No. 1 bowler in Tests in ICC rankings - the first Indian pacer to achieve the feat.
Image Source: PTI
No. 1 in all formats
Don't forget Bumrah has already been No. 1 in ODIs and T20I!s, which only underlines the versatility and special skills of the 30-year-old.
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Bumrah vs Bazball
The England batters hardly put a foot wrong. It didn't have anything with Bazball imploding - it was just that the pace, movement and variation which Bumrah generated completely tilted the balance in India's favour in the second Test.
Image Source: Reuters
Bumrah vs England
If it wasn't for Bumrah, India might well have lost the Test series in South Africa at the turn of the year and would have been 0-2 down against England who have come well prepared for spin.
Image Source: TNN
Genius out of syllabus
But Bumrah's genius is truly out of syllabus. It is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future, provided his body holds.
Image Source: Reuters
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