The Indian pace-duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have become India’s premier fast-bowling combination across formats in the past year or so. The duo has been crucial to India’s dominating performances in limited-overs and has successfully followed it up with Test cricket success.

Along with addressing India’s new and old ball fast bowling concerns, Bumrah turned out to be an instant hit with the red ball as well in South Africa. He left batsmen clueless with lifting balls delivered with his unique action. Bhuvneshwar too has added extra yards of pace to his bowling in Test cricket.

Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar had a conversation with India Today on their evolution as individuals and Indian cricket’s pace explosion on the sidelines of an Asics event. Bhuvi expressed how he learned to use the pace variations. He said, “I managed to add some pace to my game but didn’t realize with the additional pace you have to change a few other things; have to add variations. As to adding variations to my white ball bowling, ever since I started playing IPL, I realized you need variations. You can’t survive on line and length. You need coaches around you who can guide you to get there. I have been lucky that I have had seniors and coaches who have helped me get there. It feels good when these things work.”

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Talking about the most difficult batsman to bowl against, Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah said that any batsman who is in good form can be dangerous. They said that sometime even the best batsmen get out early when they are not in form but an in-form batsman is difficult to dismiss. 

Describing the competition in the Indian bowling unit, Bumrah said, “It’s very good when you have a good fast bowling unit. Everybody has a good rapport with each other. All of us are always together discussing plans. And everybody is quick nowadays. No one is medium pace and everybody is able to clock 140’s. It’s a very good time for Indian cricket. And we learn from each other. Everybody has a different quality and not everybody is the same. It’s a very good sign. We keep learning from each other and keep developing.”

When asked about the upcoming challenges in Australia, Bhuvneshwar said, “It’s a challenge for sure. It’s more We have to play white ball cricket next against West Indies. Than when we go to Australia, we will have few practice matches and net sessions. Accordingly I will plan things that can help me.”

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It will be a first World Cup for Jasprit and even for Bhuvi, as he went to Australia last time, but that’s didn’t go as well personally for him. But, the Bumrah feels that World is too far for him and he doesn’t think about that long.

On the other hand, Bhuvneshwar said, “The ultimate aim is to play and do well in the World Cup. But like Jasprit said can’t think too far ahead. Focus is on West Indies, Australia and New Zealand. If we start thinking about the World Cup now, it’s possible that we will lose focus from what we have to achieve before that.”

Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah concluded by talking about one thing that can be learned from Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni. Bumrah said that despite the fact that both are the legends of the game, he wants to create his own identity. However, he wanted to learn their ability to contribute to the country for so long.

While, Bhuvneshwar said, “There is one thing to learn from both of them which is the passion that have playing for India for all these years. Having done it for so long is not an easy thing. Both have different style of batting and captainship but both have one thing in common which is their passion. When you talk and spend time with them that’s what comes out and one gets to learn from.”