The word ‘genius’ is constantly overused in sports reporting. Even 15-minute wonders are sometimes referred to in such terms by those who have no clue what they’re talking about. Jasprit Bumrah, however, is undoubtedly a genius, someone whose mastery of his craft is beyond the understanding of ordinary mortals.
Think of the 17-year-old Pele flicking the ball over the defender’s head before applying the finish in the 1958 World Cup final against Sweden, or Roger Federer painting the line when his opponent thought the point was over. Think of Ayrton Senna in the wet at Estoril in 1985. Bumrah’s deliveries, which make even the world’s elite batters look like novices – Joe Root on Saturday, for one – belong in that company.
So, how good is he? On commentary on Saturday, Sanjay Manjrekar compared him to Richard Hadlee, whose 431 Test wickets were once the benchmark. It isn’t a bad comparison. Despite being from New Zealand, which has traditionally had some of the most seam-friendly wickets, Hadlee actually had a better average and strike-rate away from home.
Manjrekar was on the sidelines in 1988 when Hadlee toured India for the only time in his career. In four innings on pitches made for India’s spinners to exploit, he took 18 wickets at an average of 14. Every time he was tossed the ball, even though he was 37, it seemed like a wicket was guaranteed.
Bumrah is cut from similar cloth. In the 148 years that Test cricket has been played, as many as 86 bowlers have taken 200 wickets. Only two of them have a strike-rate under 42 – a wicket in seven overs or less. One is South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada (38.98), the other Bumrah (41.8). Rabada has taken the bulk of his wickets in pace-friendly home conditions, and both his average and strike-rate are markedly better in South Africa.
Bumrah does even better in ‘spin-friendly’ India, and is currently the only elite bowler in Test history to average less than 20 runs a wicket (19.33). Let that sink in. The only one in a list that contains names like Hadlee, Malcolm Marshall, Glenn McGrath, Dennis Lillee and Imran Khan.
Also Read: From laughter to cross words – how the Rishabh Pant-Ben Stokes tussle panned out at Headingley
After Saturday’s play, when Bumrah had to pretty much plough a lone furrow for India, Ben Duckett wasn’t paying lip service when he said: “He (Bumrah) is the best bowler in the world. He’s extremely hard to face, good in any conditions…”
As Shubman Gill leads India into a new World Test Championship (WTC), more than one factor will decide whether the team makes a third final in four cycles. The most important one by far, however, is Bumrah’s fitness. As long as he’s on the park, India will always have a chance. The numbers illustrate just why he’s one of a kind.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
