Jasprit Bumrah is one of the sharpest bowlers I have come across: Eric Simons

Former South Africa fast bowler Eric Simons heaped praises on Team India speedster Jasprit Bumrah for the latter’s pro-active nature and ability to understand the game with precision. The Indian pacer made his international debut in 2016 and has established himself as a reliable prospect across formats.

Although injuries at regular intervals have threatened to halt his progress, Bumrah has kept making a comeback. Recently, during India’s second Test against South Africa in Johannesburg, Bumrah was appointed as the Test vice-captain as KL Rahul led them in Virat Kohli’s absence.

Simmons, also a former Indian bowling contingent, said that Indian bowlers, including Bumrah, have a clear thought process due to which they taste success on a consistent basis.

Eric Simons lauds Bumrah

“He is one of the sharpest bowlers I have come across. When we play against him in the IPL, I try and have a chat to him. I don’t think people realise the maturity and cricketing nuance of someone like Bumrah, and generally of Indian bowlers.

“They understand the game well. In the IPL you work with bowlers from all over the world, and I find that India’s bowlers have good, clear thinking about the game. Sometimes it might be wrong and you might disagree, but, at least, they have a thought,” Simons was quoted as saying to News 18.

Simmons, who has worked as the bowling consultant of the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, termed Bumrah “an absolute leader” for employing tactics and strategies in crunch moments.

“Bumrah is an absolute leader. But you will find that all the Indian bowlers have solid plans. The conversations that are taking place within the bowling group, you will find, are very shrewd and clever, of tactics, analysing batsmen,” Simmons added.

In 26 Tests, 67 ODIs and 55 T20Is, Bumrah has picked up 107, 108 and 66 wickets respectively. Back in 2019 against the West Indies, he also became the third Indian bowler after Irfan Pathan and Harbhajan Singh to notch a Test hat-trick.

Bumrah has also been an integral member of the Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians’ setup in the IPL. He has played a major role in the team, winning as many as five titles in the last nine seasons.