Jasprit Bumrah could be vulnerable to injury problems – Sir Richard Hadlee

Former New Zealand great Sir Richard Hadlee believes India’s gun fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah could be vulnerable to injury problems because of his bowling action.

Bumrah has a small run-up and he puts a lot of strain on his body in the final few strides to generate pace and momentum.

It has always been noticed in the past that the fast bowlers who have longer and smooth actions, are generally the ones who bowl at express pace but Jasprit Bumrah has been an exception. There is hardly any momentum in Bumrah’s action and thus his body takes a lot of toll when he delivers the ball.

Ergo, a lot of cricket boffins believe that Bumrah could be vulnerable to injuries in his career and he will need to be cautious regarding the same.

“Jasprit’s longevity in the game is yet to be determined. I suspect he could be more vulnerable to injury problems than those fast bowlers with more classical and ‘pure’ actions or techniques. Some of his potential injuries could be severe because of the stresses and strains he places on his body,” Hadlee said in an official ICC media release.

“I hope any injuries he may incur will not be potentially career-ending because he is a delight to watch, and he causes batsmen all sorts of problems with his unsuspecting pace, bounce, and ball movement in the air and off the pitch,” he added.

“Jasprit fits into the unorthodox bowling category with virtually no run up to the crease. His technique in some ways defies belief but has proved to be a highly effective one. He is what I call a shoulder or strength bowler with all his power and pace coming from the final part of his action as he releases the ball,” Hadlee further said.

Jasprit Bumrah has a stuttering action and he can bowl quick even with a short run-up. Bumrah is mostly right on the money with his line and length and he has breathed down the neck of world-class batsmen with his deadly accuracy.

The ace paceman will hold the key in the WTC final against New Zealand, which will take place at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton from June 18.