Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins kicked aside as Jasprit Bumrah declared the greatest bowler by this ex-cricketer

Former India cricketers Sanjay Manjrekar and Anil Kumble were all praises for Jasprit Bumrah after his outstanding figures in India's opening Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup 2024 against Afghanistan.

Jasprit Bumrah was on fire on a slower pitch at Kensington Oval, Barbados as he picked up 3 wickets and gave away just 7 runs in his four overs. Bumrah also bowled a maiden in his spell, which is a rarity in T20 cricket.

The 30-year-old fast bowler drew first blood when he dismissed a dangerous-looking Rahmanullah Gurbaz for just 11 runs in just his second ball of the match. Bumrah did not stop here and got the wicket of Hazratullah Zazai off a well-disguised slower one, which the batter chipped to the point region.

He came back in the death and dismissed Najibullah Zadran for 19 to end any of Afghanistan's hopes for a win. Afghanistan's batters didn't have any answer to Bumrah's superb bowling as they were bundled out for just 134 runs in 20 overs.

Also read: Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma pinned as India's main problem despite a 100 per cent win record

Sanjay Manjrekar's huge statement on Jasprit Bumrah

While speaking to ESPNCricinfo, former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar claimed that there is a huge difference between the other bowlers in the world and Bumrah and India are fortunate to have him.

"There were many matches when we had not conceded the boundary and look at the difference between him and the couple of other seamers," Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo.

"They were also international standard, but quite rightly I mean, he's looking even better and when you look at all the top-class bowlers around the world. There's a big margin between them and Bumrah and India is so fortunate to have him in your playing 11," Manjrekar added.

'He has the kind of understanding of his own bowling' - Anil Kumble

Anil Kumble, who was in the same panel with Sanjay Manjrekar was also impressed with Bumrah's performance. Kumble mentioned that Bumrah has a great understanding of his bowling, which makes him such a good bowler. The legendary leg-spinner also claimed added that executing the variations isn't easy but Bumrah has the skill to do it.

"He has the kind of understanding of his own bowling. You can make out even when he got good players out. That slower ball, wide line, he gets the execution perfect. It's about variations. Every bowler has variations but executing those variations under pressure, getting the line and length right for each batsman," Kumble stated.

"He would have figured that out and then doing it right in the big game. It doesn't come easy. In this entire tournament, I'm sure he has not given one boundary," he added.

Jasprit Bumrah has incredible numbers in the T20 World Cup 2024 so far. He picked up 8 wickets in four matches so far at an average of just 6.50 and an astonishing economy rate of 3.46. He was adjudged Player of the Match in India's first two matches this tournament, against Ireland and Pakistan.

India's next match will be against Bangladesh on June 22 in Antigua. Following that, they will travel to St. Lucia for their last Super 8 match on June 24 against Australia.