Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has hailed Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah as the best multi-format bowler in world cricket in recent times. Ponting, known for his insightful analysis, expressed his admiration for Bumrah’s consistent performances across all formats, despite the challenges posed by injuries.
The 30-year-old Bumrah made a triumphant return to international cricket after a back injury sidelined him in 2022. His comeback was nothing short of spectacular, culminating in being named the Player of the Tournament during India’s victorious ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign. Bumrah was instrumental in India’s success, finishing as the third-highest wicket-taker with 15 wickets and maintaining an impressive economy rate of 4.17, the best in the team.
Bumrah’s excellence isn’t limited to T20s. He has been equally effective in ODIs and Tests, currently ranked eighth in the ODI format and second in Test cricket, alongside Australia’s Josh Hazlewood.
“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,” Ponting stated during an ICC Review.
Despite a challenging 2022, where a back injury ruled him out of the Asia Cup and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Bumrah has returned as a more formidable bowler. Ponting emphasized that Bumrah’s ability to maintain his pace, accuracy, and skillset has only improved with time, making him an even more dangerous opponent.
“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,” Ponting noted. “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.”
Ponting also drew comparisons between Bumrah and legendary fast bowlers like Glenn McGrath and James Anderson, highlighting Bumrah’s ability to keep batsmen guessing with his diverse skillset and remarkable consistency.
“The greatest way to always get a real gauge on these players is by asking (other) players,” Ponting said. “And when you talk to opposition batsmen about him (Bumrah) in particular, it’s always, ‘No, he’s a nightmare! 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.”
Ponting concluded by noting that Bumrah’s longevity and sustained excellence, much like McGrath and Anderson, set him apart as one of the greatest bowlers of his generation.
