'No batsman can take on Jasprit Bumrah' - Sanjay Manjrekar issues open challenge to world-class batters

Former India cricketers Sanjay Manjrekar and Deep Dasgupta have lavished praise on Jasprit Bumrah as the India pace spearhead continues to impress in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

The right-arm pacer showed his worth on Thursday (June 27) as well when India locked horns against defending champions England in the semifinal of the tournament. After Axar Patel dismissed Jos Buttler in the fourth over to give India the early breakthrough, Jasprit Bumrah castled Phil Salt with a beauty in the very next over to put India in the driver's seat.

It was a slow off-cutter from the fast-bowler and Salt was completely deceived by it. The England opener wanted to hit a big shot but could not make any contact with the ball. The ball went on to crash into the stumps. He then dismissed Jofra Archer to wrap up the game and confirm India's passage to the final of the T20 World Cup.

Manjrekar, Dasgupta hail 'phenomenal' Phil Salt:

Deep Dasgupta hailed Jasprit Bumrah as phenomenal and said that the fast bowler comes up with something new to surprise the cricketing world every now and then. On the other hand, Manjrekar said that there is no batsman in the world who can take on Bumrah at the time. 

"Phenomenal. When you expect 'we have seen enough of him', he comes up with something new and something that kind of surprises you.  That particular delivery, just to come in and bowl fast off-cutters and get that wicket," said Dasgupta on ESPNcricinfo.

"We talked about before the game began, whether Phil Salt should be going after Bumrah. Because sometimes you have got to be humble and Bumrah is at a space where I don't think any batter can take him on and he tried to take him on. He was completely beaten," said Manjrekar.

In the ongoing T20 World Cup, Bumrah has picked up 13 wickets in 7 games while maintaining a remarkable economy rate of 4.12. No other bowler in the top ten wicket-takers in the tournament has an economy rate of less than 5.

Meanwhile, India and South Africa will be locking horns against each other in the final of the T20 World Cup 2024. The game is scheduled to be played on Saturday (June 29). India are eyeing their second title and first since 2007. On the other hand, South Africa have qualified for the final for the first time in their history and are eyeing their first-ever World Cup in any format.