Praised by Anil Kumble, Jasprit Bumrah’s adaptability and wicket-taking ability were credited as key factors in India’s campaign for the T20 World Cup.
Legendary Indian cricketer Anil Kumble has hailed Jasprit Bumrah as the key player in India’s T20 World Cup campaign, emphasising the pacer’s adaptability and unique skillset. Bumrah’s brilliance (3 wickets for just 14 runs) proved decisive in India’s thrilling six-run victory over arch-rivals Pakistan on a tricky pitch in New York.
Pakistan looked set for victory when they needed just 18 runs from the final six overs. However, Bumrah’s crucial interventions in the 15th and 19th overs, dismissing the well-settled Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed, respectively, swung the momentum decisively in India’s favour.
Speaking on ESPNCricinfo, Kumble highlighted the impact of Bumrah’s wickets. “We saw that with those crucial breakthroughs. Getting Rizwan out in the 15th over and then Ahmed in the 19th over really put the pressure on Pakistan’s lower order. Chasing a small total becomes incredibly difficult on a pitch like this when wickets fall in quick succession,” said Kumble.
Kumble went a step further, declaring Bumrah an automatic selection for India across all formats. “Jasprit Bumrah should be your number one bowler, no matter the team you’re picking. Forget the format, forget the pitch—Bumrah’s variations and his ability to build pressure are second to none,” suggested Kumble.
Kumble elaborated on Bumrah’s intimidation factor. “Any batter knows it’s a daunting task to face him. And on a surface like this, where scoring runs is already challenging, he just squeezes the life out of the chase. He makes it incredibly difficult for the batters to score freely,” concluded the legendary spinner.
Last Updated on June 10, 2024