Jasprit Bumrah, India’s ace fast bowler, has once again solidified his reputation as one of the best in cricket. Renowned for his unorthodox “slingshot” action and ability to trouble the world’s best batters, Bumrah’s career trajectory has been nothing short of phenomenal. Overcoming career-threatening back injuries, he has now surpassed Kapil Dev’s record to become India’s top Test wicket-taker in Australia.
In the third Test in Brisbane, Bumrah grabbed nine wickets to bring his tally to 53 wickets on Australian soil, eclipsing Kapil Dev’s previous record of 51. His extraordinary performance includes 21 dismissals in the ongoing series at an impressive average of 10.90, making him the most prolific bowler on either side. Following him are Australian stars Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, each with 14 wickets.
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting hailed Bumrah as India’s greatest fast bowler, saying, “In T20s, ODIs, and Tests, he’s clearly the best right now.” Australian batter Travis Head, who has consistently performed in the series, echoed this sentiment, calling Bumrah “one of the greatest fast bowlers to play the game.”
Bumrah’s dominance was on full display in the first Test at Perth, where he took 5-30 in the first innings, followed by 3-42, to secure India’s 295-run victory. His precise yorkers and late release, honed in a parking lot near his home in Ahmedabad, continue to unsettle batters worldwide. Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood described Bumrah’s approach as unique, stating, “His slingshot motion makes him half a yard quicker than he appears.”
Despite questions from some pundits about the legality of his action, former India coach Greg Chappell defended him, calling such debates “nonsense” and his action “unequivocally clean.”
After a two-year hiatus due to a severe back injury, Bumrah made a stellar comeback in 2023. His contributions to India’s T20 World Cup victory in June, particularly his match-winning death bowling against South Africa, drew praise from captain Rohit Sharma, who called it a “masterclass.”
Bumrah’s journey began with the Mumbai Indians in the IPL, where former New Zealand cricketer John Wright scouted him. Over a decade later, his brilliance continues to dazzle, leaving opponents like Head to reflect, “It’ll be great to tell future generations we faced him.”
