Jasprit Bumrah is considered one of the best bowlers in the world. In 2014, when Bumrah was yet to fulfil his potential in the cash-rich T20 league, former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel had asked former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Virat Kohli to have a look at him. Kohli seemed disinterested at the time and paid no heed to Patel’s recommendation.
“In 2014, when I was at RCB, I told Kohli there’s this bowler named Bumrah. Have a look at him. Virat replied saying ‘Chhor na yaar. Ye Bumrah-Vumrah kya karenge?’ (Leave it. What will such players do?),” Parthiv told Cricbuzz.
Bumrah made his IPL debut in 2013 and played just two matches for Mumbai Indians (MI). He picked up three wickets in his first season from a couple of opportunities. The 2014 season turned out to be a horrible one for Bumrah as he could pick up just five wickets from 11 games. He did not get enough game time in the 2015 season and picked up three wickets from four games. Parthiv also revealed that there was a time when discussions over sending him back to home mid-season.
“When he was first picked, Bumrah played Ranji Trophy for the first 2-3 years. 2013 was his first year, and he didn’t have a good season in 2014. In 2015, it was so bad that there were discussion(s) going on that he might have to be sent back home mid-season. But, he slowly began improving and Mumbai Indians really backed him. It was his own hard work and such backing that really brought out the best in him,” the 37-year-old recalled.
IPL 2016 turned out to be his breakthrough season. He got 15 wickets from 15 games at an average of 27.06. Since then, he has been an integral part of the Mumbai-based franchise. His IPL performances earned him a spot in India's limited-overs side followed by red-ball cricket. So far, he has played 107 games and picked up 130 wickets at an average of 23.37. Also, he has an impressive economy rate of 7.46.
The MI fast-bowling spearhead did not have the best of starts to the IPL 2022 season. He did not live up to the death overs specialist tag and leaked 43 runs from 3.2 overs he bowled against Delhi Capitals (DC) at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai as MI failed to defend a total of 177.