IND vs PAK: Jasprit Bumrah Is Miles Ahead Of Shaheen Afridi, Feels Gautam Gambhir

Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir was impressed with ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling performance against Afghanistan in the ICC World Cup 2023. Gautam Gambhir described Jasprit Bumrah as the most lethal and complete bowler in world cricket.

Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the bowlers for India at the Arun Jaitely Stadium in Delhi on Wednesday, October 11. The right pacer bagged four wickets for 39 runs in his 10 overs. He helped the team restrict the opposition to a below-par total of 272 runs in 50 overs.

Jasprit Bumrah Can Make Such An Impact In Every Phase – Gautam Gambhir

Speaking to Star Sports, Gautam Gambhir said that Jasprit Bumrah consistently makes an impact in all phases of the game, unlike many other bowlers who excel only with the new ball or at the death.

“The way he dismissed Mitchell Marsh on that wicket (in the first game against Australia) and the way he dismissed Ibrahim Zadran today, if there is a complete and most lethal bowler in world cricket, it is Bumrah. We compared Jasprit Bumrah and Shaheen Shah Afridi earlier, there is a huge difference.”

“Tell me one fast bowler who can make such an impact in every phase. Bowlers bowl well either with the new ball or at the death but Bumrah has the same impact in the middle overs as he has with the new ball or the old ball,” Gambhir told Star Sports.

The Rohit Sharma-led team chased down the target with 15 overs to spare against Afghanistan. Skipper Rohit Sharma scored 131 runs off 84 runs and helped the team achieve a good NRR, which could play a big role in the later stages of the tournament.

Jasprit Bumrah Doesn’t Need The Wicket – Gautam Gambhir

Gambhir emphasized that Bumrah’s exceptional skills allow him to succeed in different formats and conditions, beating the best batters with his variations.

“The way he picked up wickets on this wicket, it’s not that they got out while playing bad shots. He dismissed batters while they were defending and then with a slower one and lbw. So Jasprit Bumrah does not need the wicket.”

“There is only one bowler in world cricket, whether it is ODI or red-ball cricket, who does not need the wicket and has the quality to beat the batters in the air and with the short ball or the slower one.”

Bumrah will be next seen in action during the high-voltage game against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday, October 14.

Also read: IND vs PAK: Jasprit Bumrah Should Have Been The Player Of The Match Ahead Of Rohit Sharma – Aakash Chopra