Former South African fast bowler Vernon Philander has hailed Jasprit Bumrah as the premier bowler in the world presently, lauding his outstanding performances since his comeback in August 2023. Bumrah recently ascended to the top of the ICC Rankings for Test bowlers, making history as the first Indian bowler to achieve this feat after his impressive nine-wicket haul in the second Test against England in Vishakapatnam.
Bumrah is the (most) complete bowler at the moment. He has got magnificent skills and he has also learnt the trade of holding a line and length and that is the reason behind his success at the Test level,” Philander told ‘PTI Bhasha’ in an interview on the sidelines of the SA T20 Tournament.
Renowned as one of India’s greatest pacers, Bumrah has been wreaking havoc across all formats since his return. Leading India’s bowling attack, he will play a pivotal role in the ongoing series against England and upcoming tournaments like the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA.
According to Philander, Bumrah has evolved into a complete bowler, mastering both skill and consistency. Initially prone to leaking runs in pursuit of wickets, Bumrah has now honed his ability to maintain line and length effectively.
Initially, he wanted to bowl wicket-taking deliveries all the time and leaked runs but now he has learnt consistency,” Philander added.
With 16 wickets in the first two Tests against England, Bumrah has excelled in challenging subcontinent conditions. His arsenal of reverse swing, deceptive cutters, and trademark yorkers has kept the opposition on their toes, earning him widespread acclaim as a bowling maestro.
Jasprit Bumrah creates history in ICC Rankings:
Jasprit Bumrah secured the top spot in the Test bowling rankings for the first time, as confirmed by the apex cricket control body ICC on February 7. With this achievement, Bumrah made history as the first bowler ever to be ranked first in all three cricket formats.
On July 17, 2022, Bumrah had previously held the number one position in ODIs, as per ICC rankings, although he currently holds the sixth position in the ODI format. Similarly, he had also attained the top spot in the T20 format, but he currently sits at the 89th position in the ranking.
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