“It was important that Jassi (Jasprit Bumrah) comes and bowls that over, and the margin becomes bigger,” Hardik Pandya said at the post-match presentation after defeating Gujarat Titans in the Eliminator. When you run out of superlatives, you keep it simple. For Bumrah, simplicity is genius.
Like Mumbai Indians captain, their coach, Mahela Jayawardene was matter-of-factly, when he was asked about the great fast bowler at the post-match press conference. “There was definitely no concerns when he (Bumrah) came back (from the injury lay-off), because the reputation itself carries through,” said Jayawardene. “He bowled a few sessions (after coming back) and he was nailing those yorkers. In the first game itself, he bowled brilliantly. I remember it was against RCB, a high-scoring game (where) he went for 20 runs or something. He is a massive asset for us, the experience he carries through to the team.”
It was a win-or-bust game and chasing 229 for victory, GT were 148/2 after 13 overs. Trent Boult had just conceded an 18-run over and the equation came down to 81 from 42 balls. GT were sniffing victory and Pandya had no choice but to turn to Bumrah. His team was in desperate need of a breakthrough.
Bumrah ‘nutmegged’ (apologies for drawing a football analogy) Washington. A searing yorker left the batsman in no shape, went through his legs and sent the leg stump for a walk. Hang it in the Louvre. From MI’s point of view, it was the game-breaker.
Bumrah’s bowling doesn’t elicit oohs and ahhs from his teammates and coaches. They see him at the nets day in and day out, and are accustomed to his greatness. What is a dream delivery for lesser mortals, Bumrah does it for fun. From Ollie Pope to Washington, a lot of batsmen will attest that.
The master doesn’t try any fancy stuff. He just sticks to the basics and executes stuff to perfection. His mind works like a chess grandmaster. In a way Bumrah’s bowling is like The Beatles’ songs — three-minute, three-chord and sad-glad — resplendent in their simplicity. And this is a player who defies the law of averages. Even the very best has off days occasionally. It is hard to remember when Bumrah last had one. It is like a ‘discomfited’ Don Bradman in the Bodyline series, who still had averaged 56.57. No wonder that Adam Gilchrist has called Bumrah the equivalent of the ‘Don’ in fast-bowling sphere.
After MI’s 20-run win in the Eliminator, Rohit Sharma was adjudged the Player-of-the-Match for his 81 off 50 balls. The veteran gave a masterclass of playing spin all right, but Sai’s (80, 49 balls) innings was better. In a high-scoring game where 436 runs were scored over two innings, Bumrah returned with 1/27 from four overs. The adjudicators got their choice wrong.