The right-hander has recently made a successful comeback from injury and is expected to continue his form during the T20 World Cup as well: India’s first-class pacer Jasprit Bumrah has opened up about his comeback from injury, explaining how repetition is the key to his yorker skills and why he prefers to keep a simple communication channel with his young teammates.
Bumrah is seen as a key player in India’s quest for a second ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title in the USA and West Indies this month, with the right-arm bowler having made a stunning comeback after recovering from a serious back injury over the last 12 months.
Bumrah was out of international cricket for a considerable period between 2022-2023 and this forced the pacer, regarded as one of the finest players to have played for India, to miss the most recent edition of the T20 World Cup in 2022 and other crucial fixtures.
However, the Indian first-class star pacer made a comeback with the T20I series against Ireland in August last year and hasn’t looked back since.
He was one of the best performers in India’s run to the final of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, taking 20 wickets at an average of 18.65 with an economy rate of just around four.
Bumrah, who returned from injury just a few months before the global mega event, focused on a simple philosophy that made his comeback easier.
“Since I have come back from my injury, I have only focused on enjoying the game as much as I can,” Bumrah added, trying to focus on the process rather than the uncertainty surrounding the game.
“Because (certain) things will go my way. (Certain) things will not go my way.
“All of these things will be a part of my process. So I have just realised that I started playing this sport. Because I love this sport.
“And I will focus on that rather than the end result. So in that aspect you reduce your pressure. And you enjoy the sport.
“When you focus on those things. Rather than the things you cannot control.”
Bumrah’s 74 T20I wickets put him third on India’s all-time T20I wicket-takers’ list. His success in the format is attributed to his pinpoint yorker, which is capable of penetrating a batsman’s defence in no time.
To explain how he discovered this wicket-taking option, Bumrah went back to his childhood and explained how he developed the yorker while playing tennis-ball cricket.
“So I played a lot of tennis-ball, rubber-ball cricket when I was growing up,” Bumrah said. “I used to play a lot with my friends in summer camps. And on summer vacations. Or whenever you used to get a lot of time.
“So when I was a kid, I used to think that this is the only way to get wickets. Because I was a fan of fast bowling. I was really fascinated by what I saw on the television.
“So I tried to replicate that.”
Bumrah revealed that repeated practice has helped him hone this skill to near perfection.
“Is it (tennis-ball cricket) a secret (to bowling yorkers) or not? I don’t know,” Bumrah queried.
“But repetition surely is. Because I have kept this delivery. I still practice it. I keep on practicing it. Because every skill that you develop, you have to practice it and make it stronger. So I think a combination of both would be the answer.”
Bumrah, who made his debut for India in 2016, is the most senior fast bowler in the T20 World Cup squad. He is leading the attack along with all-rounder Hardik Pandya along with the likes of Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh.
Despite being a senior, Bumrah believes that youngsters like Arshdeep should be given their space and allowed to decide their own journey in the team setup.
“You don’t try to over-teach. That is something that I have learned,” Bumrah said. “Because whenever people need help, I let them have their own questions.
“Or if they need my help. Because you don’t want to give too much information.”
Bumrah contextualised his approach by stating that learning a skill is part and parcel of the game.
“It’s not like they have just been lucky and they land here. So that is what I try to do. I do pass on certain information that I have gained over from my experience,” he added.
“But I don’t try to burden them with (over) information. Because that is a part of the journey as well.
“That you have to find your own ways and solutions.”
For more details, visit: ICC
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