Jasprit Bumrah is undoubtedly one of the best fast bowlers in the world right now. He has proved his mettle in all game formats, across different conditions and against various opponents.
But what makes him even more special is his ability to outshine his teammates, especially the spinners, who are supposed to be India’s main weapon at home.
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In the second Test against England at Visakhapatnam, Bumrah was the star of the show, taking nine wickets in the match and helping India win by 106 runs. He took six wickets in the first innings, including a hat-trick, and three more in the second, as he ran through England’s batting line-up with his pace, accuracy and variations. He was named the player of the match and the player of the series for his outstanding performance.
What is remarkable is that Bumrah achieved this feat on a pitch that was expected to assist the spinners more than the pacers. In fact, no India spinner managed to take a four-wicket haul in the two Tests against England, while Bumrah had three such returns. He outperformed India’s spin pack, which consisted of R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, ranked among the top 10 Test bowlers worldwide.
Bumrah’s success can be attributed to his skill, adaptability and intelligence. He has mastered the art of bowling with the new and old ball, with the red and white ball, with the seam up and the seam down. He can swing the ball both ways, generate reverse swing, bowl yorkers, bouncers and slower balls. He can vary his pace, length and angle according to the situation and the batsman. He can read the pitch, the conditions and the game situation and adjust accordingly.
Bumrah is not only a threat to the opposition but also a boon to his captain and fellow bowlers. He gives Virat Kohli an option to attack at any stage of the game with any ball. He creates pressure from one end, allowing other bowlers to reap the rewards from the other. He also gives Kohli a cushion to rotate his spinners and keep them fresh and compelling.
Bumrah’s performance in Visakhapatnam was not a one-off. He has consistently delivered for India in Test cricket since his debut in 2018. He has taken 111 wickets in 23 Tests at an average of 21.04 and a strike rate 46.5. He has taken five-wicket hauls in South Africa, England, Australia and West Indies, becoming the first Asian bowler to do so. He has also taken six-wicket hauls in India against South Africa and England, showing that he can excel in any condition.
Bumrah is a rare talent and a priceless asset for India. He has already established himself as one of the best fast bowlers of his generation and one of the greatest of all time. He has also shown that he can outperform India’s spin pack in their backyard, which is no mean feat. He is truly a phenomenon that deserves all the praise and admiration.
To illustrate Bumrah’s dominance over the spinners, here are some statistics:
- More wickets than all three spinners combined in the series (7 vs 6).
- Better average than any of the spinners in the series (14.28 vs 56.66).
- Better strike rate than any of the spinners in the series (39.4 vs 114.5).
- Better economy rate than any of the spinners in the series (2.17 vs 2.97).
- More five-wicket hauls than all three spinners combined in their careers (6 vs 5).
Bumrah’s performance in Visakhapatnam was not a one-off. He has consistently delivered for India in Test cricket since his debut in 2018.
Here are some of his impressive stats:
- 111 wickets in 23 Tests at an average of 21.04 and a strike rate 46.5.
- Five-wicket hauls in South Africa, England, Australia and West Indies, becoming the first Asian bowler to do so.
- Xix-wicket hauls in India against South Africa and England, showing that he can excel in any condition.
- Four hat-tricks in Test cricket, a world record.
- 18 wickets in four Tests against England at an average of 16.11 and a strike rate 34.6.
