Although India pacer Jasprit Bumrah is regarded as one of the best fast bowlers in the world across all formats currently, his former Ranji Trophy captain Parthiv Patel recalls the beginning of his career when the pacer didn't have many variations to his bowling.
When Bumrah made his Ranji Trophy debut for Gujarat in the 2013-14 season, Parthiv, who was captain of the side at the time, remarked that the fast bowler's unusual action had created a buzz long before he was noticed throughout the country and around the world.
Bumrah is now one of the candidates to take over Indian captaincy and is vice-captain for the next T20I and Test series against Sri Lanka. Parthiv Patel talked about the same and feels proud of the progress Bumrah has made in international cricket thus far.
"It's a very proud feeling," Parthiv said of Bumrah's progress on Cricbuzz.
Incidentally, Parthiv Patel also featured in the Indian team in Bumrah's debut Test series in South Africa in 2018.
“A lot of people in India were talking early on about his action and how easily he can pick up injuries but even before that, this was being talked about in Gujarat. There was also this notion that he just bowls fast and beats batters but does not dismiss them. But you couldn't have known for sure until you got him to play in the Ranji Trophy,” he said.
Bumrah has improved over the years in the Ranji Trophy and with Sri Lankan speed legend Lasith Malinga of the Mumbai Indians, according to Parthiv.
“In the beginning, he didn't have any variations apart from the inswinger from wide of the crease and the yorker. Then he learnt how to use the crease better. He tried bowling outswingers and it was not easy for him considering his action. He worked on that with Malinga and improved that aspect of his game. He added the yorker with the new ball in his arsenal,” he said.
Bumrah has 113 wickets in 27 Tests, 113 wickets in 70 ODIs, and 66 wickets in 55 T20I matches for India, since making his debut in 2016.
