'He always wants to get better than yesterday' - Sunil Gavaskar lauds Jasprit Bumrah's bowling abilities

Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has heaped praise on India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah after he broke Sri Lanka’s backbone with an outstanding fifer on Day two of the ongoing second Test match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. As a result of his splendid bowling performance in the first innings, Bumrah also achieved a new feat in Test cricket. He equaled the legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev’s record of registering eight five-wicket hauls in 29 Tests.

Meanwhile, Gavaskar has hailed Jasprit Bumrah as a ‘successful bowler’ and said that no batter wishes to face him even when they are well set at the crease. At the same time, the cricketer-turned-cricket pundit has also given special mention to two of the pacer’s unique skills- the skillset and variety which has the ability to trouble any batter.

Jasprit Bumrah has got the ability to get the batter out when the batter is set: Sunil Gavaskar

“So much of skill, so much of ability, so much of belief in himself and he always wants to get better than yesterday. And that is why he has been so successful. He has got better and better every match. Yes again, it happens in every cricketer’s career, he might have the odd barren period, but he will be the bowler that the opposition batsman will not want to face,” said Gavaskar while speaking to Star Sports.

“Under lights with the ball full pitched up like that and coming at a speed of 140kph, little bit difficult sometimes for the batsman to pick. But during daylight, it might not be that difficult. But the skillset and variety he has no batsman can feel at ease. He has got this ability to get the batsman out when the batter is set. With the new ball, you are expected to get the batter out because that is your strength as a bowler. It’s a hardball or a new ball, the ball will move in the air, and then it will seam after pitching, but when you get a batter out when he is set that tells you how good a bowler he is. And that is Jasprit Bumrah is.” he added.

This was Jasprit Bumrah’s maiden five-wicket haul at home. He picked up the wickets of Kusal Mendis, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella and Lasith Embuldeniya as Sri Lanka were bundled out for just 109. The 28-year-old finished with figures of 5/24. India in their second innings declared after posting 303/9 riding on half-centuries from the middle-order duo of Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer to set the visitors a mammoth target of 447 runs. The Lankans went to stumps on day two at 28/1 having lost opener Lahiru Thirimanne for a duck.