After Zaheer and Nehra hung their boots, India was desperate for death over specialist and their every attempt to beget one star in the final overs went south. Spanning from Munaf Patel to Umesh Yadav, every single fast bowler failed miserably unless young Jasprit Bumrah came down the pike.
Making his Test debut against a formidable South Africa, Bumrah made his presence felt in every single format of the game that he has been a part of. The world noticed this youngster in the 2016 ICC T-20 World Cup when he got rid of Chris Gayle without breaking a sweat.
Today, he is one of the best fast bowlers of the world and continues to proliferate with every passing game as he gets much more accurate with his yorkers in those final overs. The matches that he has won for India were not only incredible but India was way out of the equation even before Bumrah held the cherry in his hand.
We will look at ten facts about this youngster which are rarely known to most.
- Huge loss at the age of 7
At a very tender age of just 7 years, Bumrah lost his father and was brought up by his mother single-handedly who used to be a principal in a school. He always had an ever-lasting dream of settling in Canada but when he embraced the sport with arms wide open, he realized his first love and dedicated pledged his never-ending loyalty to cricket.
- Incredible debut for state
In 2013-14 season, Bumrah made his debut against Vidarbha for Gujrat. Astonishing everyone, this bony lad scalped 7 victims in his opening match itself and went on to become the highest wicket-taker for Gujrat in the tournament.
- First brought into the spotlight by former Indian coach, John Wright
Bumrah was first noticed by former Indian preceptor who coached them to the infamous World Cup finals of 2003, John Wright. While playing for Gujrat, Bumrah riveted Wright’s eyes with some fiery fast bowling. Mumbai Indians shortly paved way for this youngster to kiss the skies.
- Dream IPL debut
Bowling your opening IPL overs at Virat Kohli isn’t easy and Bumrah too felt the scorching heat when Kohli smacked him for a couple of boundaries early. However, this mean-machine retaliated in a swift manner as he struck down Kohli in the same over itself. His 3-32 left the Royal Challengers Banglaore reeling.
- A best friend cum guide in Malinga
It is said that power and energy are of no use unless you have the ability to master and harness them. That was the exact state of Bumrah unless he met the experienced campaigner who made bowling yorkers in the death a religious habit for himself. It was Malinga who taught Bumrah how to use his swing and pace concurrently and when exactly to hit the deck with those lethal block-hole deliveries.
- Bought for a whopping Rs 1.2 crores in 2014
It is not a frequent scene that an unnamed lad from the wraps of domestic cricket makes headline straightaway and notches himself up an annual package in crores. Mumbai Indians decided to splurge on this young lad and shortly as he started bearing fruit for the Indians, Mumbai made him a permanent deal and now he spearheads the bowling attack of the men in Blue.
- Highest wicket-taker in his first international series
Making his debut in T-20 in place of an injured Mohammad Shami, Bumrah single-handedly cleaned up Australia emerging as the highest wicket-taker in his very debit international series in 2016.
- Dhoni named him “find of the tour”
After the intense success exhibited by Bumrah in his debut tour and that too away from home, Dhoni labelled him as the find of the tour, owing to his incredible success.
- Most number of T-20I wickets in a calendar year
This is a record which is not an easy one to achieve even after years in the circuit, however, Bumrah racked it up in his debut year as he broke Dirk Nannes’ record of the highest number of international T-20 wickets in a calendar year, picking up 28 wickets within just 7 months.
- Sledged Abraham Benjamin De Villiers
All the bowlers across the world are very well aware of the fact that sledging ABD is probably one of the deadliest mistakes you can commit in your career. However, Bumrah did actually deride Mr 360 in a very derisive manner after he got rid of the South African big-hitter. Shortly realizing his mistake, Bumrah sought for clemency on Twitter.
