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Since making his Test debut for India against South Africa in Cape Town on January 5, 2018, Bumrah has picked up 185 wickets in 42 Tests played so far.
Greg Chappell reserves big praise for Jasprit Bumrah. (Picture Credit: X/@BCCI and X/@ICC)
Legendary Australian batter Greg Chappell, who also served as head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team from 2005 to 2007, has reserved big praise for star Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah. According to 76-year-old Chappell, who scored 7110 runs in 87 Tests for the Baggy Greens during his 14-year-long international career, the 31-year-old pacer, who sits at No. 1 position in the ICC Test bowler’s rankings, is a mixture of legendary Australian pacer Dennis Lillee and West Indies fast bowling great Andy Roberts.
“Among the modern era’s firebrands, Jasprit Bumrah has emerged as a compelling figure, inviting comparisons not only to these stalwarts but also to current South African champion Kagiso Rabada,” Chappell wrote in his column for The Sydney Morning Herald.
“I have always said that Dennis Lillee and Andy Roberts were the most complete fast bowlers that I faced. How does Bumrah, with his unorthodox action and masterful control, measure against these two and the other titans of modern fast bowling?” he further asked.
“Bumrah, though less overtly combative, channels Lillee’s ability to unsettle batsmen. His deadly yorkers and disconcerting bounce—especially with his unorthodox release point and trajectory—echo Lillee’s capacity to dictate terms. Bumrah’s quiet intensity and precision make him a nightmare, much like Lillee’s unrelenting aggression.”
“Bumrah shares Roberts’ cerebral approach. Both bowlers use subtle variations to outfox batsmen, relying on strategy rather than brute force. Bumrah’s spell in the 2018 Boxing Day Test against Australia—culminating in 6-33—was a modern echo of Roberts’ game-changing bursts,” he added.
Since making his Test debut for India in 2018 against South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town, the 31-year-old cricketer from Ahmedabad has picked up 185 wickets in 42 matches played so far. He has played 30 Tests outside India and has 138 wickets to his name in those matches.
“Bumrah mirrors this versatility. With 151 wickets at an average of 21.03 in just 30 Tests, his ability to excel in diverse conditions recalls Marshall’s dominance. Bumrah’s reverse swing on abrasive surfaces and his ability to seam and swing the ball under cloudy skies have been pivotal, evoking the same uncertainty that batsmen faced against Marshall. As Ian Botham famously remarked of Marshall, “He gave you no respite.” Today, batsmen echo similar sentiments about Bumrah,” wrote Chappell.
“Bumrah’s ability to reverse the old ball has drawn comparisons to this iconic duo. His spells in the 2021 England series and 2022 South Africa tour showcased his mastery of reverse swing, leaving batsmen helpless against late-dipping yorkers—a hallmark of Wasim and Waqar,” he added.
According to the legendary batter, if someone is standing in the way of Australia and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, then it is Bumrah.
“While the legends of yesteryear established the foundations, Bumrah is carving his own legacy—one that promises to inspire future generations of pacemen. Fast bowling, cricket’s most compelling spectacle, thrives through these icons. Bumrah, with his unorthodox brilliance, stands tall among them, embodying the heavy artillery that Ian Chappell so eloquently described,” he said.
“Make no mistake, Bumrah stands between Australia and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy,” Chappell added.
