Jasprit Bumrah: Asia's Next Best Pacer After Wasim Akram, Says Laxmipathy Balaji

Former Indian cricketer Laxmipathy Balaji has drawn comparisons between current Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and the legendary Wasim Akram, hailing Bumrah as Asia's next best pacer after Akram.

Balaji highlighted the striking similarities between the two bowlers, emphasizing their exceptional accuracy, mastery of yorkers, deceptive pace, and ability to change angles. "Wasim bhai, the ultimate. They both have identical traits, they have changed the dynamics of fast bowling," Balaji remarked.

He attributed their success to their strong upper bodies, minimal follow-through, and dominant bowling arms. "They do everything with the bowling arm alone -- the accuracy, the yorker, the pace and changes of pace, the changes in angle -- which is why they are able to take the pitch and the conditions out of the equation," Balaji explained.

Balaji believes Bumrah is poised to achieve greatness, particularly if he can lead India to victory in the ongoing T20 World Cup. "Bumrah is the next best in our continent only after him. Akram sprang into consciousness with some unplayable balls and three wickets in the 1992 World Cup final. It was after that, until 2003, that he chased and courted greatness. I feel this is the right time for Bumrah to chase greatness over the next decade," he said.

Balaji also lauded Bumrah's remarkable comeback from back surgery, noting that he has returned as a more formidable bowler. "I mean, guys lose pace, they lose a bit of confidence when they return from any surgery. But this man, he has become even better than before, which is saying quite a bit," Balaji observed.

He pointed out Bumrah's addition of a late away-swinger to his repertoire, making him even more dangerous. "Earlier, his stock delivery was the one that came back in. But clearly, during the rehab process, he didn’t allow the grass to grow under his feet. He thought about his bowling, he thought about what he needed to do to become even more lethal," Balaji said.

In Balaji's view, Bumrah is currently the most complete fast bowler in the game, excelling in all formats. "He is just the most complete fast bowler right now. Look at him -- Test cricket, white-ball cricket, doesn’t matter. New ball, he will get the job done. Old ball, he can reverse it phenomenally. Middle-overs in limited-overs games, his variations and his repertoire make him a wicket-taker, not someone who just contains the flow of runs," Balaji concluded.

Balaji's insights underscore the high expectations placed on Bumrah as a pivotal player in Indian cricket, with his exceptional skills and versatility making him a formidable force in the world of fast bowling.

Tags: #JaspritBumrah, #WasimAkram, #LaxmipathyBalaji, #IndianCricket, #FastBowling