The former captain of Australia, Ricky Ponting, praised Jasprit Bumrah as the best bowler in all formats of cricket for the last five to six years. Recently in the West Indies and USA, Bumrah helped India win their first ICC title in over a decade at the 2024 T20 World Cup.
The 30-year-old was the Player of the Tournament, picking up 15 wickets at an average of 8.26 and an economy of 4.17 in eight outings. Bumrah also starred in the grand finale against South Africa with incredible figures of 2/18 in 4 overs, including two clutch death overs.
Speaking on the ICC review, Ponting revealed that batters refer to Bumrah as a “nightmare”.
“I’ve said it for a long time, he’s probably been the best multi-format bowler there’s been in world cricket for the last five or six years. The greatest way to always get a real gauge on these players is by asking (other) players. And when you talk to opposition batsmen about him (Bumrah), it’s always, ‘No, he’s a nightmare!” said Ponting.
He added:
“You never know what’s going to happen. One’s going to swing, one’s going to seam, he’s going to bowl an in-swinger, he’s going to bowl an out-swinger. And the consistency is there. So when you’ve got that skillset and the consistency that he has, then you’re going to be a great player.”
In addition to this, Bumrah has also been remarkable in terms of various formats and wickets taken; up to the present day he has taken a total of 397 wickets in 195 matches with an impressive bowling average of just 21.10 including 12 times when he took five or more wickets in one game.
“I believe he’s actually returned even stronger”- Ricky Pointing
Ricky Ponting felt that Jasprit Bumrah dismissed the fears of rediscovering his old self after a long injury lay-off in 2022 and 2023 by returning as a better bowler.
In addition, the star pacer was at his brilliant best in 2023 ODI World Cup with 20 wickets at an average of less than 19 in 11 matches. His performances enabled India to run unbeaten up to the final, which they lost against Australia.
The champion pacer was also at his best during the 2023 ODI World Cup with a total of 20 wickets averaging below 19 across eleven matches. Bumrah’s incredible figures assisted India in making it all the way to final stage without any defeat where they ultimately fell short against Australia.
“There might have been some fears a couple of years ago when the injuries came in and ‘would he come back the same?’, but I think he’s actually come back better. If I watch what he did in the T20 World Cup – the pace is still there, there’s nothing that’s changed with the accuracy or what he can deliver. The skillset is all the same. He’s getting better year on year. So, he would rank right up there,” said Ponting.
It has been reported that the ace pacer might as well miss the upcoming home Test series against Bangladesh beginning on September 19. Bumrah was rested from India’s last two assignments which included the five T20Is in Zimbabwe and the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka as part of workload management.
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