BY MAHADEV DESAI
Jasprit Bumrah, the celebrated Indian pace bowler, has etched his name among the pantheon of legendary cricketing talents, his extraordinary journey marked by determination, resilience, and excellence.
Born into a Sikh Punjabi family in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on December 6, 1993, Bumrah’s early life was shaped by adversity, having lost his father at the tender age of five. He and his sister were raised by his mother. He loved playing cricket from an early age. Bumrah preferred bowling to batting and honed his skills by practicing on the concrete floors of his apartment complex. He also practiced with tennis balls, which helped him bowl lethal Yorkers. When he was fourteen, he joined Kishore Trivedi’s The Royal Cricket Academy in Ahmedabad.
Bumrah made his T20 debut for Gujarat, where his impressive Man of the Match bowling performance helped Gujarat win the tournament. At the age of 19, Jasprit was signed by The Mumbai Indians franchise for the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he soon became a star player. In 2016, Bumrah received a call-up to the India national team. He made his ODI and T20I debut against Australia at Sydney and Adelaide, respectively, in Jan. 2016, and his Test debut against S. Africa at Cape Town in Jan. 2018.
Right-arm pacer Bumrah takes few short strides, and with a hyper-extended elbow, stiff-armed action, and unusual point of release, makes it difficult to read him. He bowls at an average speed of 142 km/h, and he clocked 153 km/h during India vs Aus 1st Test at Adelaide Oval in Dec. 2018! His arsenal includes reverse swing, off-cutters, seam bowling, and Yorkers.
Cricket commentator, coach, and former Pakistan Team Captain, Wasim Akram, in January 2019, lauded Jasprit Bumrah, saying, “Jasprit Bumrah has the best and the most effective yorker among fast bowlers playing international cricket now.”
Bumrah’s unconventional bowling style can cause stress fractures on his lower back. In the past, he has missed inclusion in the team due to injuries. He has accomplished an astounding 10th 5-wicket haul in Test Cricket in four countries—S. Africa; England; Australia, and W. Indies, and on different pitches! He is the fastest Indian pacer to take 150 Test wickets.
Following his outstanding performance in the second Test against England in Visakhapatnam, Bumrah not only bagged the Player of the Match award but also secured the top spot in the latest ICC Men’s Test Bowler rankings, marking the first time an Indian fast bowler has achieved this feat. Bumrah’s remarkable bowling prowess, highlighted by his match figures of 9/91 in the second Test, played a crucial role in India’s series-levelling 106-run victory over England. Among the praises that poured in for Bumrah and his memorable performance was one from Chris Woakes, who lauded him, “In the last Test match, JB was the standout player. He is a world-class player, across all formats; he is one of the best if not the best at the moment.”
Bumrah’s impressive Career Summary:
| Matches | Wkts. |
|---|---|
| Test | 34 |
| ODI | 89 |
| T20I | 62 |
| IPL | 120 |
He is married to Sanjana Ganesan, and the couple has a son. Bumrah is currently the Vice-Captain of the Indian team. Jasprit Bumrah’s trailblazing journey, which exemplifies determination, resilience, and excellence, will continue and will no doubt inspire countless aspiring cricketers worldwide.
