One of the current strongest teams in all the formats of the game is the Men in Blue. They have built a strong core team and also has a good reserve bench. Almost all the team members are indispensable. But among all of them pacer Jasprit Bumrah has always been the X-factor.
Bumrah is currently the most important Indian member and the most complete bowler in the whole world. His phenomenal rise in the world of cricket has shocked everyone. In the last three and a half years, Bumrah has achieved a lot of records.
More Articles Related To Cricket:
- 5 Reasons Why Dhoni Can Be Used As Opener In T20s
- 10 Players Who Missed A Unique Record In Their Career
Jasprit Bumrah Family
Table Of Content
Jasprit Bumrah cricketer was born on 6 December 1993 in Ahmadabad to a Sikh family. Jasprit Bumrah family comprised of his father Late Jasbir Singh, his mother Daljit Bumrah and sister Juhika Bumrah.
Jasbir was a business man who had a chemical factory while Daljit was the principal of Nirman High School. When Jasprit was around 7 years old, his father died and his mother had to shoulder all the responsibilities of the family.
Jasprit used to study in the Nirman High School where his mother was principal. But right from his childhood, he was more focused on cricket rather than his studies. As a kid, he used to practice his bowling inside the house. However it created a lot of sound which prevented his mother from sleeping.
This is when Daljit gave a condition to Jasprit that he can only practice bowling if it created less sound. Jasprit decided to aim at the wall skirting (where the wall meets the floor). This created less sound and this is where he learned to perfect his yorkers.
When Daljit was interviewed about Jasprit’s childhood, she revealed, “He said he wanted to become a cricketer. I was surprised of course and initially said, there are so many kids playing cricket and that it would not be easy. But he said, please keep faith in me. Being a single parent, I was a bit apprehensive but how could I have said no. At school, I keep telling parents that every child has a dream and we should give them a chance.”
Jasprit showed his focus in achieving the dream of his life. He went for early morning practice sessions, then attended school and then again attended the evening practice. Soon he was picked in every summer camp to the official camp organised by Gujarat Cricket Association. Later he was selected for MRF Pace Foundation and the zonal camp of National Cricket Academy.
Unorthodox Bowling Action Of Jasprit Bumrah Cricketer
Bumrah mainly came into the limelight because of his unorthodox bowling action. He has an anomalous sling-arm action which is coupled with natural pace. Along with that he has a peculiar release point which makes the batsmen hard to pick him early.
Apart from that Bumrah has the ability to hit yorkers at right time and also perform well during the death overs. Like his Mumbai Indians teammate Lasith Malinga, Bumrah also has the uncanny ability to hit the blockhole. He is also one of the fastest Indian pacers with average speed of 142 km/h. His fastest speed was 153.26 km/h against Australia which outpaced the likes of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.
In an interview Bumrah revealed, “My all-time favourite bowlers are Mitchell Johnson, Wasim Akram and Brett Lee. I used to watch their videos and learn from them. I have learnt a lot from Johnson, and Malinga too. I try to learn from any senior bowlers who have played international cricket.”
In reference to Bumrah, Aussie pace legend Dennis Lillee said in December 2018, “I think Jasprit Bumrah is very, very interesting. He runs off a very short run-up. He jogs and then bowls with a very short run. He has got straight arms. His bowling is not textbook by any means, but it works. He is very different from other pace bowlers, which reminds me of another fast bowler of my era, who was very different from everyone else – Jeff Thomson.”
Domestic Career Of Jasprit Bumrah Cricketer
Bumrah began his first-class career for his state team Gujarat. He debuted against Vidarbha in October 2013 during the 2013-14 season. In the very first match, Jasprit took 7 wickets. By the end of the season, Jasprit became the highest wicket-taker of his side.
Jasprit Bumrah cricketer debuted in T20s against Maharashtra during the 2012-13 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. In the final of the tournament, Gujarat faced Punjab. Jasprit gave a Man of the Match performance as his figures of 3/14 helped Gujarat clinch the title.
In 2013, then Mumbai Indians coach John Wright was scouting for new talent. He saw Jasprit and his unorthodox action is what attracted Wright. Later in an interview John revealed, “There was something about his action and the momentum he generated just as he was about to deliver the ball.”
Soon a 19-year-old Bumrah made his debut during the 2013 IPL season. In his debut match against Royal Challengers Bangalore, he stole the limelight with figures of 3/32. Thus he became only the 2nd bowler to take 3 wickets on debut. Although he played only 2 games in 2013, his performance was enough for Mumbai Indians to retain him. From there the story of his rise in world cricket started.
International Career Of Jasprit Bumrah Cricketer
Bumrah made the start of his international career with a T20I against Australia on 27 January 2016. In August 2016, after a two-match T20I series against West Indies, he had taken 28 wickets. This made him the bowler with most T20I wickets in a single calendar year as Bumrah surpassed the record of Dirk Nannes.
During England’s 2016-17 India tour, in the second T20I, Bumrah took 2 wickets and gave 20 runs in his four overs. In the final over, when England needed 8, Bumrah took the 2 wickets. In the last ball he bowled a perfect yorker when England needed 6. As a result Bumrah was awarded the Man of the Match.
During 2017 Sri Lanka tour, Bumrah took 15 wickets. With that he made the record of getting most wickets by a pacer in a bilateral series of five or fewer matches. In the final of 2017 Champions Trophy, Bumrah became the villain. He bowled a no-ball in which Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman was out. Later Zaman scored a century and took the game away.
On 5 January 2018, Jasprit Bumrah cricketer made his Test debut against South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town. His maiden Test wicket came in the form of AB de Villiers, who was bowled out for 65 runs. In the 3rd Test of that tour at Johannesburg, Bumrah got his first five-for. He had figures of 5/54 from 18.5 overs. In that same year, Bumrah was named in the ODI XI of the year by Cricbuzz.
In the 3rd Test in 2018 India’s tour of England at Trent Bridge, Bumrah got his second five-for. His figures were 5/85 from 29 overs as India defeated England by 203 runs. During the Boxing Day Test of 2018 India’s tour of Australia, Bumrah got his 3rd five-for.
He got his career-best figures of 6/33 as it wrapped up Australi’s first innings for just 151. With that Bumrah also became the forst Asian bowler to get five-fors in Australia, England and South Africa in the same calendar year. He was also the highest wicket-taker (21) of the series.
That year, Bumrah finished with 48 Test wickets, which was a record for an Indian bowler in his debut Test year. In 2018, Bumrah was named in the World Test XI and ODI XI by the ICC. Along with that he was also named in the ODI XI of the year 2018 by ESPNCricinfo and Test XI and ODI XI by Cricbuzz.
In April 2019, Bumrah was named in the 2019 World Cup squad. He was named as one of the five exciting talents who were making World Cup debut. The opening match against South Africa in the World Cup was also Bumrah’s 50th ODI game. In the game against Sri Lanka, Bumrah got his 100th ODI wicket.
This made him the second-fastest after Mohammed Shami to achieve this record. Bumrah finished the World Cup as highest Indian wicket-taker and fifth highest overall with 18 wickets from 9 games. He was named in the ‘Team of the Tournament’ by ICC and ESPNCricinfo.
In August 2019, in the first Test of India’s tour of West Indies, Bumrah got his 4th five-for. He registered the figures of 5/7 during West Indies’ second innings. In the 2nd Test, Bumrah became the third Indian bowler to get a hat-trick in Test.
Jasprit Bumrah Wickets And Achievements
It was during the beginning of 2016 that Jasprit Bumrah cricketer made his international debut. At that time he was mainly considered as a limited-overs bowler. This is because till then Jasprit Bumrah wickets consisted of 52 from 47 T20s at an economy of 7.34.
The highlighting factor was the 24 wickets in 14 games in 2015 and 2016 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at an average of 14.75 and economy of 6.61. In two seasons of 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy, Jasprit Bumrah wickets consisted of 34 from 14 games. These wickets Jasprit picked up at an average of 15.20 and economy of 3.82.
In first two years, Jasprit Bumrah cricketer did well as he took 56 wickets in 31 ODIs and 40 wickets in 32 T20Is. Because of that, Bumrah received his Test cap in Cape Town in 2018. He was selected in the team ahead of star pacers Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav.
However Bumrah’s first-class record wasn’t that good. He had taken only 89 wickets in 26 matches in first-class career before that. However the Indian management clearly saw something different in him which made his selection possible.
Currently Jasprit Bumrah wickets consists of 103 in 58 ODIs at 21.88 and strike rate of 4.49. In T20Is, Jasprit Bumrah wickets consist of 51 in 42 games at 6.71. Along with that he has taken 82 wickets from 77 IPL games. But in Tests, Jasprit Bumrah cricketer has shined the most. So far he has played 12 Tests where he has taken 62 wickets at an average of 19.24.
Bumrah is the only bowler to have an average of less than 22 in all the formats in the last 10 years. He is also one of the three bowlers to have taken 50-plus wickets in his first 12 Tests and also 100-plus wickets in his first 58 ODIs. The other bowlers are Shane Bond and Brett Lee.
However this is just the starting of the career of Jasprit Bumrah cricketer. In the history of cricket, players have only become great by maintaining their consistency over the years. Bumrah has that ability as within this two years, he has played in different conditions and with different balls.
He also has the ability to learn and adapt quickly according to the situation. This fact can be stated from his debut Test itself. In the first innings he had a nervy and wayward performance as he had figures of 1/73. But in the second innings he made a comeback and took 3 wickets for 39. Along with his skills, Bumrah also has a cool temperament. He is also among four bowlers in the last 60 years to have taken 62 or more wickets in first 12 Tests at a sub-20 average.
In such a short Test career, Jasprit Bumrah cricketer has played in four different countries. He has played in South Africa, England, Australia and West Indies. The highlighting fact is that he has taken five-fors in all these countries.
His fourth five-for against West Indies came in his 11th Test. This is the fewest among bowlers who have taken five-fors in four different countries. The list has 170+ bowlers with 50+ wickets who have played in more than 3 countries in first 12 Tests. This is why this achievement is huge for Jasprit Bumrah cricketer.
In the longest format, batting requires a lot of skill and mindset. Likewise in the bowling department also, it requires a lot of patience. In T20s, its all about variations and keeping the batsman guessing. The variations should be so random that each ball has to be different from the other.
But in Tests, a bowler has to have the ability to stick to a plan. He has to remain patient and constantly hit similar areas repeatedly. In both the cases, Jasprit Bumrah cricketer has excelled. His overall Test average is 19.24 and strike rate is 43.7.
But among this the more impressive thing is Bumrah’s numbers against the top order. Against the top seven batsmen, Bumrah has an average of 19.78 with 47 wickets and strike rate of 46.3. In the last 15 years, among 103 bowlers, no other bowler has a better average against the top seven batsmen.
Another interesting statistics about Bumrah is that he has outstanding numbers against both right-handers and left-handers. Against both of them, in 12 Tests, Bumrah has average of less than 23. In ODIs, his average and economy rates are even lesser. Many bowlers have an affinity towards a particular type of batsman. But Bumrah is totally different as he is lethal against both.
The one interesting thing about his five-fors is the rate with which he has taken those wickets. He has taken 6 for 27 and 5 for 7 against West Indies. In MCG, Bumrah has taken 6 for 33 and at Johannesburg, he has taken 5 for 54.
The only five-for where Bumrah has given more than 60 runs is the 5 for 85 at Trent Bridge. In all those five-fors, Bumrah has averaged 7.62 runs and 18.6 balls per wicket. In the last 80 years, only two bowlers have better average and four bowlers have a better strike rate.
All the 12 Tests that Bumrah has played were outside India and in better bowling conditions. However when Bumrah’s average is 19.24, the average of other bowlers were 27.96. This means that despite bowling-friendly conditions, Bumrah’s average was 1.45 times better.
Among other bowlers who have taken 50 wickets in first 12 Tests, ten bowlers have better ratios than Jasprit Bumrah cricketer. Among them South Africa’s Vernon Philander was the best. In his first 12 Tests he took 67 wickets at 17.98. The other bowlers in those Tests averaged 40.27. This means Philander’s average was 2.24 times better than the others.
The other bowlers in the list are Waqar Younis, Shane Bond, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Asif, Josh Hazlewood, and Yasir Shah. In all of Bumrah’s 12 Tests, the other bowlers were also good. While India had a potent pace and spin attack, the bowling department of South Africa, England, Australia and West Indies were also top-class.
In the above list, most of the bowlers have largely played in one or two formats. However the case of Jasprit Bumrah cricketer is totally different. He has excelled in all the three formats and has been the X-factor among all the other bowlers at the present. Currently he is just 25 years and if he remains injury-free, one can expect greater things from him in all formats in the upcoming future.