Andy Roberts' High Praise for Jasprit Bumrah: 'Could Have Taken the New Ball in Our Era'

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has consistently praised Jasprit Bumrah's exceptional bowling skills, particularly his unwavering commitment to Test cricket. Shastri has emphasized Bumrah's desire to break away from the stereotype of being labeled a "white-ball specialist."

Shastri's admiration for Bumrah's journey is evident in a recent revelation about a compliment the pacer received from legendary West Indies fast bowler Andy Roberts. Speaking on Star Sports, Shastri disclosed that after Bumrah's devastating performance in a two-Test series in the Caribbean in 2019, Roberts and Curtly Ambrose approached the Indian pacer.

In those two Tests, India defeated the West Indies in Antigua and Jamaica, winning both by a margin of more than 200 runs. Bumrah claimed 13 wickets in the matches, including a hat-trick.

"The ultimate compliment for Jasprit Bumrah came in 2019," Shastri said. "When I was coach here and we were playing a Test series and he dismantled the West Indies in 2-and-a-half or three days in the two Tests matches. And Andy Roberts walked up to him in Antigua. Andy and Curtly (Ambrose) together. Andy walked up to him and said 'You, young man could have taken the new ball in our era'."

"You will not get a bigger compliment than that. Roberts was the leader of the pack that had Marshall, Garner, Croft, and Holding. No better compliment than that for Jasprit Bumrah. That was in 2019, he has come along leaps and bounds since then," Shastri added.

Shastri also highlighted Bumrah's unique release point, which allows him to bowl a wide range of deliveries with exceptional accuracy.

"His release point. From where Mohammed Siraj releases the ball to where Jasprit Bumrah releases the ball is 48 cm. And with a straight wrist. Normally when you release the ball from ahead, it has to be a bouncer. When you release the ball from behind, it's pitched. But from there, to be able to yorker at will, to bowl the bouncer and bowl a hard length, that's amazing. That's what separates him from the rest. The pace might say 140 kph, but it's hitting the ball a lot harder," Shastri explained.

Bumrah's exceptional skills were on display in the recent T20 World Cup, where he finished as the third highest wicket-taker with 15 wickets. He was adjudged the Player of the Tournament as India remained undefeated throughout the competition.

In the final, Bumrah took two wickets as India turned the tables on South Africa, restricting them to 169/8 and emerging victorious to end an 11-year-long global trophy drought.

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