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Sanjay Bangar thinks Jasprit Bumrah is almost a complete bowler but could improve one aspect of his art.
Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar thinks that the only area Jasprit Bumrah can improve in his bowling is the bouncers. Bangar said the Indian Test vice-captain is ‘as complete a package’ as there is in the world but he can use the short balls more to add to the variety of his arsenal.
Bumrah is currently on an injury rehab after straining his back in Australia during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. That series was close to the peak for any fast bowler in Indian cricket history, as he took 32 wickets in nine innings at a ridiculously good average of 13.06, head and shoulders above his peers.
“He’s as complete a package as you can get, If I had to point out one area for improvement, it might be his short ball. But overall, Bumrah is a bowler who can do it all. There’s no doubt about his versatility and skill,” Bangar said on the Star Sports show, Deep Point.
However, the coach-turned-broadcaster added that a lack of reliance on bouncers and in extension, ‘intimidating’ batters, makes Bumrah more special.
“The most special thing about Bumrah is his belief in the art of fast bowling. Traditionally, fast bowlers intimidate batters and then get them out. But Bumrah does it differently—he relies on skill rather than fear. He’s not a bowler who gets wickets primarily with bouncers. Instead, he uses in-swing, out-swing, yorkers, and slower balls to outthink the batter,” Bangar added.
Bumrah has been named in the ICC’s Test team of the year for 2024 and will be in contention to win the Player of the Year award, too.
‘Fast-bowler who thinks like a spinner’: Deep Dasgupta on Bumrah
Former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta concurred with Bangar in saying that Bumrah was unlike the typical fast-bowler, and was closer to a spinner in his thought process.
“Would it be fair to say Bumrah is a fast bowler who thinks like a spinner?” Dasgupta said. “He’s precise, calculated, and methodical in his approach, much like a spinner who plans every delivery. He’s not the kind of fast bowler who bowls short deliveries to scare batters. His skill lies in outsmarting the batter every time.”
India are reportedly expecting Bumrah to be back for the third ODI of the ongoing white-ball series against England on February.
