He’s probably been the best multi-format bowler there’s been in world cricket – Ricky Ponting on Jasprit Bumrah

Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has tipped Jasprit Bumrah as the best multi-format bowler in the cricket world. Bumrah has been lethal for India in all three formats and he has delivered the goods in all conditions.

Bumrah bagged 15 wickets at an average of 8.26 and an economy rate of 4.17 in the eight matches of the T20I showpiece and thus played an instrumental role in taking India to glory.

Bumrah has been ticking the right boxes and he was magnificent for India throughout their World Cup campaign. The Indian pack leader is known to quickly read the conditions and bowls accordingly to get the best out of him. 

“I’ve said it for a long time, he’s probably been the best multi-format bowler there’s been in world cricket for the last five or six years. The greatest way to always get a real gauge on these players is by asking (other) players. And when you talk to opposition batsmen about him (Bumrah), it’s always, ‘No, he’s a nightmare!” said Ponting on ICC review.

Ponting reckons Bumrah is unpredictable as he has many arrows in his quiver and know when to use what.

“You never know what’s going to happen. One’s going to swing, one’s going to seam, he’s going to bowl an in-swinger, he’s going to bowl an out-swinger. And the consistency is there. So when you’ve got that skillset and the consistency that he has, then you’re going to be a great player.”

Bumrah was out with a back injury for more than a year and Ponting reckons India’s gun fast bowler has returned as a better bowler.

“There might have been some fears a couple of years ago when the injuries came in and ‘would he come back the same?’, but I think he’s actually come back better. If I watch what he did in the T20 World Cup – the pace is still there, there’s nothing that’s changed with the accuracy or what he can deliver. The skillset is all the same. He’s getting better year on year. So, he would rank right up there,” said Ponting.

Bumrah will be in action in the two-match Test series against Bangladesh.