VVS Laxman applauds Jasprit Bumrah’s performance in Asia Cup

While Indian fans were busy celebrating the clinical batting performance by their team in the ongoing Asia Cup, former batsman VVS Laxman had a spare of thought for pacer Jasprit Bumrah for his excellent show with the ball in the competition. The 24-year-old, who faced a backlash over his no-ball in the final against Pakistan in the final of the Champions Trophy in England last year, has delivered against the arch-rivals not once but on two occasions in Dubai and Indians are just loving it.

Bumrah came up with excellent death bowling in the Super Fours game against Pakistan on Sunday to restrict them below 240 in 50 overs. He picked Shoaib Malik at a crucial stage to put brakes on Pakistan’s breaking, something which made India’s chase under the lights a tad easier. After picking 14 wickets in the final three Tests against England after an absence due to injury, Bumrah has so far picked seven wickets in the Asia Cup with the best of 3 for 37 against Bangladesh.

Bumrah has been a treat to watch

In his column for Times of India, Laxman wrote: “No praise can be too high for how Bumrah has performed, in extreme heat. Temperatures have been hovering in the early 40s, but that hasn’t pegged him back. He has been pacy in his first spell and his last, and the way he has executed his yorkers, it has been a treat to watch.”

“To keep bowling that length on a regular basis at the death is no easy task. It is a testament to his fitness, the long hours at practice and his confidence that Bumrah has seldom got it wrong.”

Bumrah, who was even praised by the Pakistani commentators during the second game against Pakistan for his accuracy and consistency, had himself said during the England series that he is habituated with bowing long spells for it is something he has been doing since his formative years. And we need to remember that the bowler is operating in the heat of the desert after playing in the English weather.

Laxman also applauded India’s opening partnership of Bumrah and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar with the ball. The duo has given India breakthroughs early up and it has made it that much easy for other bowlers to cash in.

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