Anil Kumble: ‘Bumrah can become India’s greatest fast bowler’

Mumbai: The Indian pace-machine was at his belligerent best against the West Indies as he proceeded to annihilate the batsmen. In the recently concluded two-match series between India and West Indies, Bumrah managed to scalp 13 wickets.

Speaking to News18 on Jasprit Bumrah, Anil Kumble said, “I think he is an amazing cricketer, you know for a young boy who walked into Mumbai Indians in the IPL when I was part of it till now, he has just grown in stature, grown in his skillset, he is much stronger, fitter and he has added a bit of pace.”

Speaking on Bumrah’s bowling ability, he said, “What really was intriguing and what was really nice to see was his ability to swing the ball away from the right-hander or to the left-hander coming back in. I think that to me is lethal. Bumrah can do that consistently. One coming back in is a natural angle to the right-hand batsman. If he can take the ball away which he did in the series, we know what he could do. He could just blast out the opposition in less than five or six overs and that's the ability Bumrah has and I think India is blessed to have someone like him.”

During the first Test, Bumrah had become the fastest Indian bowler to take 50 Test wickets and in the second Test, he was able to take a hat-trick, becoming only the third Indian to achieve the feat in the longest format of the game after Harbhajan Singh and Irfan Pathan.

Kumble was also asked whether he sees the shades of a great fast bowler in Bumrah. Upon this, he said, “Well certainly, I think he has all the credentials to become a great bowler and already he is the number one bowler in all three formats. I mean if you look at the consistency that he has shown. In all the three formats, India depends a lot on Bumrah.”

“So, yes, he certainly has the quality to go on and become the greatest ever fast bowler from India. I think that is something that he has and you can see those shades early in his career. He is only 25 so he has a long way ahead of him and you know it is wonderful to see the kinds of performances he has put together.”, he added.

The pacer was able to win the player of the series award for his performance against Windies. Bumrah had recorded figures of 5/7 in the first Test and he managed to come up with a bowling spell of 6/27 in the second Test.

(With ANI Inputs)