Jasprit Bumrah just showed the world what it takes: Ravi Shastri

Jasprit Bumrah was at his lethal best in the T20 World Cup 2024 delivering at the crunchest of moments. Especially in the final, when India were defending almost a run-a-ball in the last five overs, he delivered an exceptional over, including Marco Jansen’s wicket. Former India coach, Ravi Shastri, heaped praises on the right-arm pacer and compared him to Wasim Akram from the former pacer's prime days. 

Bumrah was also clinical against Pakistan in the group stage game as the pacer succeeded in breaking through Pakistan’s batting line-up defending a paltry 119 runs. He dismissed well-set Mohammad Rizwan when Pakistan needed to chase the target below to run a ball. Shastri also highlighted the Indian pacer’s efforts in delivering match-winning five overs in the T20 World Cup final against South Africa.

Also Read: Why Super Over was not played in tied Sri Lanka vs India 1st ODI 2024? Reasons Explained

“He (Bumrah) just showed the world what it takes...and you know, it's not often in your career when you have a ball in your hand and you say, 'do this and the ball does that'. I think the India-Pakistan (match) because India were made to fight there and realise what the right combination should be going forward in the tournament. That and then of course the (T20 World Cup) final, those final five overs,” said Shastri as quoted by NDTV Sports.

“I'd say one was Jasprit (Bumrah) getting Mohammad Rizwan. Extremely crucial, because that could have tilted the balance of the game. And it happened on the first ball of a new spell,” he added.

Also Read: Sri Lanka vs India, 2nd ODI: Stats Preview of Players' Records and Approaching Milestones

Bumrah has been one of the few players who has been rested for the white-ball tour to Sri Lanka. Ravindra Jadeja, who announced retirement from T20Is, was also not inducted into the ODI squad. Moreover, the exclusion of Hardik Pandya from the ODI squad also came as a surprise, as selectors showed faith in Shivam Dube.