According to Vernon Philander, a former South African seamer, Jasprit Bumrah is the most all-around bowler in international cricket. Philander believes that Bumrah will dominate all of his peers at the Twenty20 World Cup in the Americas this year due to his line-holding skills, wicket-taking deliveries that do not let runs slip through his fingers, and those deadly yorkers.
On Wednesday, Bumrah made history by becoming the first Indian pacer to ever be ranked first in ICC Tests. That followed his enchanted nine-wicket performance on the sporting Visakhapatnam track in the second Test against England.
Bumrah appears to have no weaknesses, according to Philander, a South African who has played 64 Tests and taken 225 wickets.
Currently, Bumrah is the best bowler overall. When asked about his success at the Test level, Philander said ‘PTI Bhasha’ during an interview held on the sidelines of the SA T20 Tournament that his talent and ability to hold a line and length are the reasons behind it.
“He used to be obsessed with bowling wicket-taking deliveries nonstop, which allowed runs to sneak in, but now he knows the importance of consistency,” he said. In June, teams from the West Indies and the United States will gather for the Twenty20 World Cup. The defending champions, India, are likely top contenders.
Bumrah has evolved into the type of bowler who is unbeatable in the shortest format, according to Philander, so the team will depend on him extensively. He then swings the new ball, inserts the stumps, and goes after the batters from the front of the field.
The T20 World Cup is a perfect opportunity for his “spectacular” change-ups and “lethal yorkers,” he said. In addition to praising Bumrah, Philander was effusive in his praise of Mohammed Shami, Bumrah’s pace partner, saying, “I feel he is going to play a massive part in the tournament and perhaps also be the best seamer.” Shami became the second fastest bowler in Test history to reach 50 wickets, attaining the mark in just seven games.
He is dominating right now, and it is thrilling to watch. His intentions upon arriving in South Africa to bowl were set in stone. Bowling on these pitches is different from bowling on flat subcontinental pitches; one must adjust their mindset accordingly, he added.
According to Philander, India appears to have figured out how to produce quality fast bowlers, with some of the credit going to the vision of former captain Virat Kohli. Whenever India comes to this place, they always appear to be doing better than on their last tour.
For some reason, Indian spinners have been dominating on the subcontinent, so it is heartening to witness the Indian team’s success in Australia. Excellent leadership is also a key factor.
The pacer spoke highly of “Virat Kohli, a strong leader who was pushing his bowlers to go and learn and get better,” alluding to India’s historic victory over Australia in the Test series in 2018–19. In five Tests (2013–2018), Philander took 25 wickets at an average of 18, enjoying a stellar record against India at home.
When asked about their matchups, Philander recalled that Kohli was the most difficult opponent he had ever faced. In my opinion, Virat’s demeanor makes him the most difficult batsman to face. His bowling style prevents you from ever settling.
The 38-year-old claimed that Virat is a formidable opponent for bowlers because of his powerful character and his batting prowess. As the Twenty20 World Cup would take place immediately following the Indian Premier League, Philander was asked whether players, particularly bowlers, would show up fatigued. He emphasized that managing workloads would be the most important factor.
Because it is a major tournament, I think you should oversee the players. His advice was to “manage pacers well” so that those players could get game time. His heart leaps for joy at the positive reception of SA T20 in South Africa.
“The tournament is superbly run, and the cricket is of the highest standard. Having young players from South Africa have the opportunity to play alongside the world’s best was something the sport desperately needed, he added.
Although he was unable to participate in the IPL during his playing career, he is eager to become a consultant or coach for the tournament. Eventually, every cricket fan dreams of participating in the Indian Premier League. Perhaps even in a consulting or coaching capacity now. With any luck, an opportunity will arise soon so I can join in and teach the younger players what I know,” he said.
