A conscientious boy’s strong desire to bowl fast erodes the deep-seated inferiority complex of a fast-paced cricketing nation. This is a brief gist of Jasprit Bumrah’s story. For longtime fans, this is a tale of a series of coincidences and good luck. For the boy who lost his father early in life, fate had guardian angels at every thorn he faced as he negotiated the complex maze of Indian cricket. Developing into an all-format match winner, Bumrah has proved that the faith placed in him was not misplaced. His rise as the vice-captain of the ODI team in comparison to other contenders is a testament to his ability as a leader and a quick thinker.
What is the probability that the fastest talent-watchers in world cricket will hand-pick a talented player from the non-glamorous teams of Indian domestic cricket?
John Wright (File)
John Wright, who is credited with the great leap in Indian cricket at the beginning of this century, traveled some 12,000 km from Christchurch to Pune for a limited-overs first-class game between Mumbai and Bumrah’s Gujarat. While working for IPL franchise Mumbai Indians, Wright was there to check on the pre-tournament form and fitness of several MI boys in the Mumbai team. He would go beyond his brief description at the deceptive pace of a slender teenager. Even at that time, Bumrah used to trouble the batsmen with his disappointing bounce by bringing down his straight bowling arm with anger. A one-time ward of the friendly Kiwis from his days as India’s coach and Gujarat captain, Parthiv Patel Will inform Bumrah of Wright’s interest. In the Gujarat dressing room full of Patels, the Sikh boy known as Sardar Patel said, “Yeah, right.” It was not some other locker room prank, Patel was actually telling Bumrah that from now on he can avoid the stairs as the lift door was opened for him.
What are the chances that Bumrah would be mentored by the best bowler in the business, who had an unconventional bowling style like his?
Lasith Malinga (File)
Lasith Malinga, a senior Mumbai Indians supporter, immediately falls for the guy who never gets tired of asking questions. Long before the apprenticeship, the real king of yorkers used to say to the rookie: “Don’t worry, I’ll teach you everything.” In the coming days, the base of the stumps and toes of the batsmen at MI nets will bear the brunt. A quick learner, Bumrah will slowly but surely acquire Malinga-like control and accuracy. As promised the Sri Lankan would teach him everything, even the magical art of delivering that delicate off-cutter without giving any clue to the batsman – no change in grip, no change in seam position, Not even a glimpse of mischief in his eyes.
What are the chances that Bumrah will get to spend months with his childhood hero, whom he watched on loop growing up and even apes while playing tennis-ball cricket in the parking space of his residence complex? Have you seen it too?
Michelle Johnson (file)
As the MI project was signing players keeping Bumrah in mind, the world’s fastest bowler Mitchell Johnson will also land at the Wankhede. Once during the nets, young Bumrah, who was eager to impress his ideal, would bowl an average short delivery to Johnson. The Australian will miss the old hand line and his helmet will spin around his head. Later in the dressing room, Johnson would politely ask Bumrah about his batting schedule. “Why?,” asked the overwhelmed young lad to attract the legend’s attention.
The story goes that Bumrah never batted in the nets that season. He will sneak up to Johnson, following him like a kitten. Both laughed and talked. That IPL would end with a deadly short ball with the always-emerging Bumrah arsenal.
What are the chances that an injured Bumrah will be under a bowling coach with a master’s degree in the art of recovery and rehabilitation?
Shane Bond (File)
Shane Bond, once the world’s fastest bowler, doesn’t have many muscles in his body that haven’t suffered tears or bones without the trauma of a stress fracture. Bumrah’s best friends across most teams have been masseurs, trainers and physios, thanks to his explosive landing of his foot in whiplash action with final strides and shoulder-shaking. The Kiwi legend has been the MI bowling coach for a long time, another key star beautifully aligned with the right constellation that supported the rise of Bumrah. Bond will share his knowledge and positivity about injury management with the young speedster, who has a long association with orthopedics. Being part of a franchise known for keeping players in cotton wool and being freshly sensitive to their welfare also helped. The owner of MI is in the health care business and also runs a state-of-the-art hospital in Mumbai. Bumrah was in the right hands and in the right place at the right time.
What are the chances that a young IPL MVP with a multi-million dollar contract would want to bowl more than 20 overs in a day in Tests and risk injury?
Fortunately for Indian cricket, early in his career, Bumrah, like Virat Kohli, showed a passion to excel in red-ball cricket. 1 bowler and batsman openly expressing his undying love for Test cricket, India found a team culture that valued playing in whites. The joy on Kohli’s face when Bumrah bounces off rival batsmen on spicy wickets in Australia, England And South Africa showed India’s plan to turn around its dubious away record was working. Bumrah’s efforts in Tests have never been affected by the IPL schedule. He gave everything and if it meant injury he didn’t care.
Heartwarming Instagram chat amid lockdown Yuvraj Singh And Bumrah gave an idea about the priorities and ethics of this fast bowler of this generation. Lastly, it also explains the selection committee’s decision to place him in a leadership role.
Yuvraj, a known skeptic of Gen Next’s affinity for Tests, asked the young pacer about the atmosphere in India’s dressing room where the youngsters, he had heard, were just happy with IPL contracts. “It’s a sad reality. Many bowlers come up to me and say we are fine with ODIs, T20s and how they want IPL contracts. But they forget that without Tests you can’t be a full-fledged cricketer.
He also used to bust the myth that it was the IPL that brought him international success. “I joined IPL in 2013, for next 3 years I would get 2, 10 or 4 games. That’s when I played Vijay Hazare, Ranji Trophy and joined India team in 2016. And only after that I completed entire IPL season. Played.
Bumrah will share life lessons learned from cricket with Yuvraj. “The youth these days are expected to get recognition from social media, they want their own fan clubs. They want people to praise them. But you don’t get any good from people’s praise. To me the world’s recognition, praise or criticism, doesn’t change my perspective. Opinions change every three hours in cricket, that shouldn’t change my thinking.”
Yuvraj shook his head and said, “Look everyone, what a mature 25 year old boy is talking. That’s why I want to talk to this boy and I hope a lot of younger kids are listening. That’s why That Bumrah is the ODI vice-captain for the South Africa series.
Once during another interview, Bumrah was asked what was the priceless thing that he had given to his mother. The question was part of a rapid-fire round, the popular quick Q&A format designed to provoke laughter. The boy, who had witnessed the struggles of his working mother, who raised him and his sister alone, thought for a while and uttered one word: “safety”.
As happy coincidences go, it is the same priceless thing he has given to the Indian cricket team on a foreign trip.
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