Veteran Australian great Steven Smith has praised Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah as the top fast bowler in all formats today. With their upcoming clash in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy later this year, the 35-year-old views it as a significant challenge.
The 30-year-old right-arm fast bowling specialist achieved more than 400 international wickets during the recent Test between India and Bangladesh. He has a very impressive record across the formats and is very penetrating in each and every phase of the game.
The cricketer from Ahmedabad was named Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup 2024 edition held in India due to his scalps of 15 in 8 matches at an economy rate of 8.27. Speaking to Star Sports, here’s what Smith had to say about Bumrah:
“He’s a wonderful bowler, whether I face him with the new ball, slightly older ball, or even the old ball. He’s got great skills with all of them. He’s a great bowler, arguably the best fast bowler across the three formats. It’s always going to be a challenge.”
Bumrah was also a key figure in India’s two-series win down under as he bagged 21 wickets in the four Tests of the 2018-19 leg and 11 wickets in three matches toured in 2020-21.
“You Can’t Spot Any Weakness In This Guy” – Sanjay Manjrekar On Jasprit Bumrah
While watching the first Test between India and Bangladesh in Chennai, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar noticed that the right-arm pacer has a good cricketing brain and Indian cricket is lucky to have him. Manjrekar told ESPN Cricinfo.
“We all know about his variations, his thinking – one of the sharpest thinking fast bowlers. We saw a certain amount of meanness as well in the way he bowled to Taskin. But the one thing that came through today was that he is a bowler without a weakness – whatever the opposition, pitch conditions and that’s actually the best way to judge greatness.”
“You don’t see any weakness at all in this guy. Indian cricket is so fortunate to have him in their side.”
India’s five-Test tour of Australia will begin from 22nd November.
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