Bumrah will return to action during India’s five-T20I series against Australia.
Former cricketer-turned-analyst Irfan Pathan has showered rich praise on Jasprit Bumrah, hailing him as the most skillful fast bowler India has ever produced.
Bumrah will return to action during India’s five-T20I series against Australia, starting on Wednesday (October 29) in Canberra. The pace spearhead was rested for the recently concluded three-ODI series Down Under.
“Bumrah’s economy of 6 is simply unbelievable. According to me India has never had a more skillful bowler. There hasn’t been a more skillful bowler produced by India than Jasprit Bumrah. Don’t know about the future, but currently, there is no comparison. Wherever his role is very important in the T20Is, like the new ball, 1-2 overs in the middle and the at the end 1-1. Combination will be important and we’ll see how Suryakumar Yadav uses Bumrah,” said Pathan on his YouTube channel.
While the Indian team has done exceptionally well under Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership in T20Is, the captain’s lack of runs has been a cause of concern lately.
Pathan addressed the same, and backed Surya to do well on Australian pitches. “One cause of concern is skipper Surya’s batting and his form. If you see the numbers for the last few years, he had a strike rate of 166 and no one made more runs than him. Now if the average is going towards 20 and you are struggling to make runs that means your form is down. Will Surya make runs in Australia? I think the pitches should suit him. He uses the pace of the bowlers and he plays well square of the wicket, it’s ideal for Surya. If you recall, when Surya debuted, he used the pace of Jofra Archer and played a shot. If a player plays that kind of a shot, it’s his strength. If the pitches suit his strengths then it’ll be easier for him to come back to form,” Pathan said.
After the first match in Canberra, both teams will travel to Melbourne for the second T20I on October 31, followed by the third in Hobart on November 2, the fourth in Gold Coast at Bill Pippen Oval on November 6, and the fifth and final T20I in Brisbane on November 8.