This after the India batters fired in unison to post a massive 357 for 8 in Mumbai.
Mohammed Shami (5/18 in 5 overs) took away all the accolades for his second five-wicket haul in three games, but the other two India pacers also played their parts with aplomb. Pace spearhead Bumrah (1/8 in 5 overs) started the innings with an ‘unplayable’ delivery to dismiss Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka for a golden duck off the very first ball of the run chase.
Praising the impact of Bumrah in the Indian attack, former Pakistan skippers Shoaib Malik and Misbah-ul-Haq agreed that the India pacer is never out of form in his career.
“Never seen him [Bumrah] out of form. He always remains in form,” Misbah said with a smile during a discussion in ‘A Sports’.
“Only when he is injured,” Malik quipped with a big laugh.
Malik then elaborated, saying, “Injury can happen to anybody. Players have to be very honest with the physios when recuperating, and also to their trade. So when you return, you come in as completely fit. I don’t see any difference in him from before the injury and after the injury. He is the same old Bumrah before the injury. In fact, he has become more lethal now.”
Further explaining his point about Bumrah’s impact and utility, Malik said: “So far, Bumrah has taken 10 wickets in powerplay with an average of 18.70. And the economy is very interesting, just 2.87. Bumrah when he comes in the powerplay, he swings the ball both ways. When he comes in the middle overs, he reverse swings very well.”
“In the powerplay against Sri Lanka, his first ball was unplayable as Misbah had said. His deliveries are so unplayable, batters always get beaten by it. His quality is that he can bowl in any situation and he is a handy bowler for the team. You can give him a new ball, you can bring him the middle overs with semi-new balls, and you can bring him in the death overs. His yorkers are very good. Reverse swings are very good. And if you have such a bowler in your team and is in form then as a captain you remain very confident throughout your bowling period,” Malik pointed out.
Misbah also pointed out why Bumrah did not get more wickets against Sri Lanka.
“Bumrah did not get as many wickets as others here because he bowled ‘extraordinary’ deliveries in which batters mostly got beaten. You don’t get nick and also batters play him with safe mode on. That’s why he is getting less wickets,” Misbah said.
Misbah then heaped praise on the third pacer in the Indian armoury – Mohammed Siraj (3 for 16 in 7 overs), and explained what made him different from Bumrah and Shami.
“I think the difference between Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah & Mohammed Shami, is that his length is a bit fuller. And where the ball swings, it becomes very difficult to face him because it is difficult to avoid the ball. Either you play properly or if you are beaten by it then there is always a chance of a wicket. You can see, his delivery is fuller length and you have to play it. And when it swings, then it becomes very difficult to play it. That’s the reason, in the Asia Cup final too when the ball swings and when batters are beaten the ball hit the wickets,” Misbah explained.
World Cup 2023: India crush Sri Lanka, become first team to qualify for semifinals