I learnt to bowl the slow yorker from Malinga says Jasprit Bumrah

If it were not for Mohammed Shami’s injury that ruled him out from the series against Australia, and his subsequent replacement Bhuvneshwar Kumar also sustaining an injury, Jasprit Bumrah would have been with the Gujarat side wondering what more he could do to earn a place in the team. The 22-year-old Gujarat pacer has grabbed the opportunity by its neck and has cemented a place in the national team.

Bumrah is now an integral part of the Indian team, bowling at the start of the innings and coming back for another spell towards the end with his toe-crushing yorkers and slower deliveries. Shane Bond, who is the bowling coach of the Mumbai Indians always briefs Malinga and Bumrah on how to operate in the match.

When Lasith Malinga bowls during the powerplay overs, it is usually left to Bumrah to bowl at the death and vice versa. Rohit Sharma has called on Bumrah to bowl at the death more times than not. His control with the ball, be it slower yorkers, faster ones or the regular slower deliveries is exceptional as seen in the game against the Gujarat Lions.

In a conversation with IPLT20.com, he said, “I think the plans which we had talked during the bowling sessions, and also the bowlers’ meeting, is helping us. We have been executing the plans and I think that is helping us.”

I always try to keep calm. I had a chat with Shane Bond as well. So, I try to keep calm and try to execute the plans which I have spoken before, and so I try to do that. Lasith Malinga has been a great influence for me to bowl yorkers consistently. I used to bowl yorkers before as well, but to bowl consistently, you need practice. So he helped me in that,” he said

He further stated that it was not easy to cope up with the pressure of bowling at the death overs, as the team is expecting the bowlers to do the job. He said that it is often difficult for bowlers to operate at the death.

“It’s always difficult when you bowl at the death. You can contribute to your team if you do well, so it plays a massive role when you bowl in the death. So, I think I am enjoying the role right now, and let’s see how it goes in the future matches,” he added.

It isn’t tough to notice that Bumrah neither wears a cap nor a hat during the T20 matches, when he was asked about it the youngster in an honest manner said, “In a 20-over game I don’t wear a cap, but when I play four-day games, I usually wear a cap. It has nothing to do with my fancy hairstyle, as I just try to focus on the things going on in the field.”

With 16 points Mumbai have most certainly qualified for the playoffs though the official qualification figure is 18. “We cannot be complacent as we have qualified. We still have to do well. We take one game at a time and move forward. So, I think that will help us,” he said talking about the team’s approach here on.