Former South African batter Hashim Amla has named Jasprit Bumrah as the most difficult bowler he faced during his Indian Premier League (IPL) days.
In a recent podcast with Shubhankar Mishra, Amla lauded Bumrah’s magnificent skill set and consistency across all formats of the game.
“Obviously Bumrah,” said Amla when asked about the best he’d faced. “I mean, he’s an amazing bowler, and you see how fantastic he’s been for India. Yeah, I think Bumrah is definitely the best bowler and somebody who challenged me the most. I’d say he’s the most skilful, and as an all-format bowler, he’s just incredible. To just watch him bowl in itself is beautiful.”
Amla, who was known for his calmness and technical brilliance, played two seasons in the IPL for Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab). He played 16 matches and scored 577 runs at an average of 44.38 which included two centuries and three fifties. His overall IPL strike-rate was 141.77.
This acknowledgement from Amla highlights Bumrah’s evolution into one of cricket’s premier fast bowlers. Known for his unorthodox action and pinpoint yorkers, Bumrah has been a match-winner for both India and Mumbai Indians (MI).
“It’s difficult to say,” said Amla when asked which team he would like to play for if he got another opportunity. “I mean, they all, it’s all a privilege to play in the IPL. I’d say MI (Mumbai Indians). Well, I suppose now that I’ve had some experience working with MI as a coach in the South African League, you see what a well-run unit it is. Fantastic organisation. The logistics and the planning are great. And also probably Chennai. I mean, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are a fantastic franchise, and it’s no surprise that they are the two most successful IPL teams.”
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