Australia legend Ricky Ponting applauded Jasprit Bumrah in the latest ICC Review, saying that he was ‘the best multi-format bowler’ in recent times, and believes the speedster has returned an improved player despite his injuries in 2022. However, Bumrah was Player of the Tournament in India’s successful ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, finishing as the third-highest wicket-taker (15 wickets), and was the most economical bowler in the team (4.17) as well.
“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 said in the ICC Review.
The pacer struggled with a back injury in 2022 which ruled him out of the Asia Cup and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as well. After 11 months on the sidelines, he returned to India’s squad ahead for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup last year, where his stunning show lifted him to the official ICC Team of the Tournament. However, Ponting believes despite the injuries, Bumrah has come back better than before.
“There might have been some fears a couple of years ago when the injuries come in and ‘would he come back the same?’, but I think he’s actually come back better,” Ponting said. “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.”
The Australian legend compared Bumrah to pace legends Glenn McGrath and James Anderson.
“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.’
“So when you’ve got that skillset and the consistency that he has, then you’re going to be a great player. Look at (Glenn) McGrath, look at (James) Anderson, these guys, their longevity and their skills being able to hold up for such a long period of time is what separates them from the rest,” Ricky Ponting concluded.
