Former New Zealand speed star Shane Bond heaps praises on Bumrah

Mumbai Indians bowling coach Shane Bond was all praises for young pacer Jasprit Bumrah. Shane Bond praised Bumrah for his consistency at the pre-match conference at Mumbai. The way the young bowler has soaked in all the sudden limelight and the performances he has put ever since his debut in the national side is commendable.

Bumrah first broke into the scene in IPL when he donned the Mumbai Indians jersey. Being associated with the bowler and having trained him at the Mumbai Indians camp, Shane Bond said that pacer wasn’t at his very best last year since he was recovering from a knee injury. He believes that Bumrah will have a big impact for defending champions in the tournament this year.

“I think last year Bumrah was coming into the matches, after a serious knee injury, so didn’t see the best of him. But his development over the last year is credit to himself the manner of hard work he has put in. And I think he is the player who is in up and up. The way he particularly bowled for India in the World T20, he has been one of the best bowlers,” quoted the former Kiwi pacer Bond.

Given the red-hot form that the slingy-action pacer is in, Bond feels it will only benefit him as a player and the Mumbai Indians in the IPL this year. Bond was right in spotting out that Bumrah has now become one of the key players for the franchise.

“And for us, in my point of view is great to get him back, also with the form he is in and also with the confidence he is in. He has got great skills like the way he is bowling so he adds a great amount to our team,” added Bond.

Bond also spoke about what chances the bowlers have in the batting-friendly format of T20 and how would a bowler counter the attack by the batsmen. Bond said it is all a part of the game plan. Depending on what situation the game is in and who the batsmen is, where he is targeting and all those factors come into play. According to the situation, the ball is thrown up to a bowler.

“It is about working out where and whom the batsman wants to target at some point of the game and what bowlers you want to bowl to a particular batsman,” he said.

The Mumbai Indians begin their title defence in the opening encounter of IPL 2016 against the new franchise on the blocks, Rising Pune Supergiants on April 9.