Greg Chappell, the legendary Australian batter and former head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team, has heaped praise on India’s premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah. In a glowing assessment, Chappell likened the 31-year-old pacer to two of cricket’s most iconic fast bowlers, Dennis Lillee of Australia and Andy Roberts of the West Indies, citing Bumrah’s unique combination of skill, strategy, and intensity.
Chappell, who amassed 7110 runs in 87 Tests during a celebrated 14-year career, highlighted Jasprit Bumrah’s ability to unsettle batsmen with a style that blends Lillee’s aggression and Roberts’ cerebral approach. Writing for The Sydney Morning Herald, Chappell remarked, “Dennis Lillee and Andy Roberts were the most complete fast bowlers I faced. Bumrah, with his unorthodox action and masterful control, brings echoes of their dominance to the modern game.”
According to Greg Chappell, Bumrah’s lethal yorkers and surprising bounce, generated from his unconventional action, mirror Lillee’s ability to dictate terms. Yet, Bumrah achieves this with a quieter intensity, eschewing Lillee’s overt aggression for calculated precision.
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“Jasprit Bumrah channels Lillee’s ability to unsettle batsmen, making him a nightmare at the crease,” he noted. Similarly, Greg Chappell pointed out Bumrah’s resemblance to Andy Roberts in his strategic approach to dismantling batters. Referencing Bumrah’s six-wicket haul in the 2018 Boxing Day Test against Australia, Chappell called it a modern-day echo of Roberts’ game-defining spells. “Both bowlers rely on subtle variations to outsmart their opponents rather than brute force,” he added.
Since his Test debut in 2018, Bumrah has claimed 185 wickets in 42 matches, with an impressive 138 of those scalps coming in just 30 overseas Tests. His ability to adapt across conditions, from reverse swinging the ball on abrasive surfaces to exploiting seam movement under cloudy skies, has drawn comparisons to greats like Malcolm Marshall, Wasim Akram, and Waqar Younis.
Greg Chappell praised Jasprit Bumrah’s artistry with the old ball, particularly his mastery of reverse swing, showcased during the 2021 England series and the 2022 South Africa tour. “Bumrah’s dipping yorkers and deceptive movement evoke memories of Wasim and Waqar at their peak,” Chappell wrote.
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As India and Australia battle for supremacy in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Chappell believes Jasprit Bumrah is the defining factor. “Bumrah stands between Australia and the trophy,” he concluded, asserting that Bumrah’s brilliance is reshaping fast bowling and inspiring future generations.
