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Once World Cup-winning former India captain Kapil Dev had remarked that bowlers were workers and batters were officers. Going by that logic, India’s premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is also supposed to be a worker. However, he enjoys the status of an officer.
By being the best in the business, Bumrah is in a different league – as if he is neither an officer nor a worker. Along with Virat Kohli, he is the biggest star of this Indian team. Like Kohli, not many can access him.
Bumrah doesn’t have spare time for the media. He doesn’t have spare time for hobnobbing with the sponsors. He is an untouchable.
Even Mohd Shami, who had a rocking 2023 World Cup and Bumrah’s batchmate, didn’t enjoy this kind of aura. And why would he? Bumrah is the undisputed bowling spearhead of India in all formats of the game.
Does it mean Bumrah is pricey? He is not. Bumrah is a very private person. So much so that he only gives digital interviews to his TV anchor wife.
He carries the responsibility of India’s bowling department on his shoulders. Like King Kohli, he is Badshah Bumrah. Only a few days ago, he spearheaded the Indian bowling to steer his team to a dramatic win over Pakistan. Bumrah can’t put a foot wrong.
Today, Bumrah is just a factor in the opposition camps. They are going back and forth on how to take on this magician. Bumrah is the discovery of the Mumbai Indians and the backing he enjoyed because of his talent.
Bumrah has reached the pinnacle of success because of his ability. From here on, how he manages his workload will determine his longevity. Not to forget that Bumrah’s back-to-back man-of-the-match awards have put him on that pedestal like Yuvraj Singh of 2007. A lot will depend on how the team management uses his skill set from here on!
