On Wednesday, Jasprit Bumrah made history by becoming the first pacer from India to be ranked #1 in the Test bowling rankings.
At Vizag, the 30-year-old was on fire against England, claiming nine wickets to help India win and tie the series.
In addition, he defeated South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada, Australia’s Pat Cummins, and fellow countryman Ravichandran Ashwin, becoming just the fourth Indian to ever reach the top of the charts. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Bishan Singh Bedi are the other Indians who have achieved this feat.
Who is Jaspreet Bumrah?
Jasprit Bumrah, an Indian cricketer renowned for his unorthodox bowling style, has left an indelible mark on the sport. Born on December 6, 1993, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Bumrah’s distinctive sling-arm action and impeccable control make him a formidable force in all formats of the game.
Debuting in 2016, he quickly rose to prominence with his ability to consistently deliver yorkers and deceive batsmen with his variations. Bumrah’s remarkable performances in both domestic and international cricket have cemented his status as one of the finest fast bowlers of his generation.
Rankings
With 881 rating points, Bumrah leads all Indian bowlers with the highest totals, Ashwin (904) and Jadeja (899). In March 2017, Ashwin and Jadeja also had the unique distinction of being rated #1.
In terms of batting rankings, Shubman Gill rose to 38th place following his century in the same match as left-handed opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who made two centuries against England in the second Test.
India has not yet announced their team for the final three Test matches. Bumrah will definitely survive, but when to give him a break is still up for debate. Mohammed Siraj bowled at full tilt at the nets two days before the Test match, but India’s think-tank sent him home from Vizag last week.
Bumrah’s role in the Indian Cricket team
The team management finds it tempting to play Bumrah with the series tied at one and momentum on their side heading into the third Test in Rajkot, which is scheduled to take place in nine days. After even the score, India knows they must play England hard in Rajkot, and they need Bumrah, who has performed well each time Rohit Sharma has given him the ball. The 33.1 overs he hammered out at Vizag are the most he has scored in a Test match since his return, despite the fact he showed no indications of exhaustion or difficulty.
Right now, it appears that Bumrah is the only real weapon India has to counter Bazball. Additionally, it explains why the hosts are giving their lead pacer the best possible care. To the extent that his rehabilitation coordinator, trainer S Rajnikanth, is still taking care of him here. India’s current dilemma is whether to let Bumrah rest in Ranchi or Rajkot.
The decision of the Indian team
According to head coach Brendon McCullum, “Bumrah bowled a fantastic spell of reverse-swing,” BBC Sport said. “Our players are really talented and high caliber; we just need to make sure they have the confidence to take calculated risks and fully commit to their plans. We must devise some strategies to combat that.
India has every right to be concerned about Bumrah’s workload considering his importance and the demanding schedule they have ahead of them. In addition to the IPL, he would be much more needed for the eight remaining Test matches this year, four of which are in Australia, and the T20 World Cup, which comes right after. Bumrah has played in four straight Test matches in a series, once in Australia and once in England, although that was prior to suffering a back injury that may have ended his career.
