Former Pakistan cricket captains Wasim Akram and Misbah-ul-Haq have heaped praise on India's pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami for their stellar performance against England in Lucknow.
Wasim Akram, in particular, commended Bumrah, describing him as a complete bowler. Akram highlighted what makes Bumrah so deadly and why he excels with the new ball.
"He is the best in the world right now. Top of the ladder! The control, the pace, the variations, just a complete bowler. A treat to watch," Akram told the A Sports.
"With the new ball, to get this kind of movement on this kind of pitch … pace, carry, follow-through… you name it he’s a complete bowler," he added.
"When Bumrah is bowling to a left-hander from around the wicket and hits the ball on the seam… And when he’s bowling from wide of the crease, the batter will think the ball is coming inside.
"He will play for that angle, but the ball hits the pitch and moves away rather than coming in. Most of the time, you are going to be beaten.
"When I used to bowl outswingers like that to right-handed batters with the new ball, sometimes I couldn’t control the ball also. But Bumrah definitely has better control with the new ball than myself.
"The length where he bowls with the new ball is what creates uncertainty for the batters," the legendary pacer added.
Bumrah, making his comeback to international cricket during India's series against Ireland and consistently leading India's pace attack at the Asia Cup, found his top form just in time for the ICC World Cup. In the recent match against England, Bumrah showcased his skills as the senior pacer for India, joining forces with veteran Shami to dismantle England's batting lineup.
The Bumrah-Shami partnership proved devastating as they combined to dismiss defending champions England for a mere 129 runs in 34.5 overs at the ICC World Cup in Lucknow. Bumrah played a pivotal role by taking crucial wickets, including Dawid Malan, Joe Root, and Mark Wood. Despite conceding 32 runs, Bumrah managed to secure three wickets in just 6.5 overs against England.
Bumrah's exceptional performance has earned him the status of the second-highest wicket-taker at the ODI World Cup in India, with an impressive average of 15.07. In six World Cup matches, he has taken 14 wickets, showcasing his prowess as a world-class fast bowler.
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