"My unique action gives me an edge over batsmen for the first time, not after that": Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah grabbed eyeballs during IPL 2013 playing for Mumbai Indians (MI) when he chalked up 3 wickets, including Virat Kohli’s, against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in his first IPL match. His sling-arm & unorthodox bowling action and sharp pace marked him out from other young Indian fast bowlers. But it took him another two and a half years to don the Indian cap.
He acquitted himself with distinction on the Australian tour (his first international tour) and continued to perform remarkably well in the Asia Cup 2016 and World T20 2016. His knack of bowling stinging yorkers and his ability to come up trumps in death overs have elicited enormous appreciation from cricket experts and former cricketers.
In a no-holds-barred tete-a-tete, he talks about his childhood heroes, unorthodox bowling action, India’s performance in the World T20 2016, and MS Dhoni’s captaincy.
Excerpts:
Q. How has life changed for you since international debut?
Honestly, I’m the same person as before. Nothing has changed as such. It’s just that more people recognise me now. They expect me to bring laurels for India each time I bowl in an international match. It’s a great feeling. I do feel more responsible.
Q. Did you expect that your international career would start on such a sizzling note and success would come your way so swiftly?
Playing for India is itself is such a great honour that one does not think about all these things. I frankly did not expect anything. I was simply living my dream of representing India at an international level. I wanted to bowl as well as I can.
Secondly, I do not think I have attained any level of success as yet. I’ve just started my career and there is a long, long way to go before I start considering myself successful.
Q. Historically, Indian fast bowlers have not been known to spear in yorkers. But you manage to bowl yorkers with admirable precision and consistency.
I enjoy hurtling yorkers. I’ve been practising it since my school days, and when I started playing in domestic circuit for Gujarat, I used it to good effect. Even while playing IPL for MI, yorkers brought me a lot of scalps. I still practise yorkers so that I can improve further. Yorker is a potent tool in any fast bowler’s armoury.
Q. Lasith Malinga, your MI team-mate, is also renowned for bowling stellar yorkers. Did you seek his suggestions?
My interactions with Malinga have helped me a lot in becoming a better fast bowler. Not just yorkers, I discuss a range of things about fast bowling with him. He has become a very close friend of mine and I often talk to him about my bowling and seek his advice.
Q. Apart from yorker and bouncer, which are the other variations and weapons do you wish to add in your quiver?
There’s a lot of scope for improvement. One keeps learning more about his bowling as one plays more matches. I believe in closely observing my bowling and learning from my mistakes. With time, one learns a host of variations & subtle improvisations and also when to deploy them.
Q. Bowling in death overs is a daunting challenge for most bowlers. But you bowled amazingly well in death overs in Asia Cup, World T20 and also on the Australian tour.
I truly relish the challenge of bowling in death overs. It tests your nerves and temperament, not just skills. I had done quite well for Gujarat and MI in death overs so I was confident that I can do well for India too. The fact that I can bowl yorkers is surely a big asset. I hope that in future too I would continue to bowl with commanding control in death overs.
Q. Your bowling action is quite unorthodox and unique. Does it give you an edge over batsmen?
Perhaps my unique bowling action gives me an edge against a particular batsman if he is facing me for the first time. He might find it hard to adjust for the first time. But after that, there is no such edge or advantage. All batsmen would work you out if you don’t have adequate skills and variations. That’s why it is essential to keep pushing the envelope and upgrading your skill set.
Q. Are you satisfied with India’s performance in the World T20? What about your own performance?
I think Indian team demonstrated high-grade cricket in last 3 months. We thrashed Australia 3-0 in the T20 series in their backyard. We won the Asia Cup quite comfortably. I think even in the World T20, we fared quite decently. We held our nerves and came out smelling of roses in the matches against Bangladesh and Australia. The semi-final against West Indies was also a cliff-hanger. Unfortunately we ended up losing that match.
I’m happy with my performance but not completely satisfied. As I stated earlier, there’s a lot of scope for improvement. I’m going through the beats and learning the ropes of fast bowling. I think that I can be a better bowler than I am at present.
Q. What kind of captain is MS Dhoni? Does he advise you a lot when you’re bowling or let you bowl whatever you want?
See, Mahi bhai (Dhoni) has oodles of experience. He does give me suggestions and talk to me about the field setting. He certainly gives me a lot of confidence and shares his insights regarding a particular batsman or situation with me. But ultimately if I feel strongly about something, he backs me and tells me to bowl whatever I wish to.
It’s extremely satisfying and heartening for a youngster to know that his captain has enormous faith in his capabilities.
Q. Apparently fielding is not your strongest suit. Your thoughts?
I agree that I’m not a great fielder. This is one area where I need to work upon. Fielding is a major factor especially in limited-overs cricket. Having said that, I don’t think I’m an absolutely terrible fielder either. But yes, I must step up and make an effort to ameliorate my fielding.
Q. Who were your childhood heroes who inspired you to become a fast bowler?
Wasim Akram, Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson are my childhood heroes. I have always looked up to them. It was a special moment for me to bowl alongside Mitchell Johnson in the IPL for MI. He has been my role model and to bowl alongside him was a monumental privilege. He was extremely helpful and gave me a lowdown on the nuances of fast bowling.