India pacer Jasprit Bumrah has come a long way after making his debut in January 2016. He had a memorable last year, scalping 30 wickets in 23 ODIs besides picking 12 wickets in 11 T20Is. Moreover, Bumrah’s bowling exploits in ODIs ensured his place in the ICC ODI Team of the Year 2017 and more importantly he received his dream Test cap during the South Africa tour earlier this year.
Following the 58-day long trip to South Africa, Bumrah was rested from the Twenty-20 tri-series in Sri Lanka that India had won by defeating Bangladesh in a thrilling final under Rohit Sharma. The 24-year-old paceman is now gearing up to stamp his authority in the cash-rich Indian Premier League for Mumbai Indians. He was retained by the defending champions prior to the IPL auction.
"I was on a break. I bowled a lot of overs in South Africa, had played continuously throughout the year. I was at NCA and not sleeping at home. It was a good break and was necessary. The hunger is back and it is good to be back (playing cricket)," Bumrah was quoted by PTI as saying.
"I have played against CSK before. It's good to play against India teammates," he added.
Bumrah, who has taken 47 wickets in 46 matches for Mumbai Indians in three seasons thus far, also analysed the bowling attack of the side which will take the field without the services of Lasith Malinga for the first time after 9 years. In IPL 2018, Mumbai’s pace attack will have Pat Cummins, Mustafizur Rahman and Mitchell McClenaghan besides Bumrah and Hardik Pandya.
"We have a very good bowling unit. We have got varieties - good spinners and fast bowlers. A clear mindset and control are very important. Even if you have six varieties, if you are not able to execute on a given day it's no use," Bumrah asserted.
Mumbai’s bowling coach Shane Bond was in all praise for Bumrah and said he's the same humble and hard-working person he was three years ago.
"I watched a little bit of him in South Africa. He is No. 1 in T20s, No. 1 in ODIs and in Test cricket he has been outstanding. He has grown up as a person, he is a senior player now. I met him three years ago for the first time. He is still the same - humble and wants to work hard,” Bond told PTI.
"I think he is a complete bowler. The first thing you talk about him is his yorker. He has also got a good bouncer, moves the ball both way and hits the wicket hard. He has got a very good slower ball and a very good read on the game. The more he plays at the international level he is going to get better and better and is a big asset to Indian cricket," the former New Zealand fast bowler added.
Featuring in his maiden Test series, Bumrah claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in the third Test at Wanderers and led a foundation for India’s historic 63-run victory over the Proteas in January. The speedster had scalped 14 wickets at an average of 25.21 during the hard-fought Test series that the Virat Kohli and company lost by 2-1.
