Ishant Sharma shared a story about Jasprit Bumrah from the period before his ODI debut in 2016.
Jasprit Bumrah: From Domestic Sensation to India’s Pace Spearhead
Jasprit Bumrah today stands as the undisputed leader of India’s pace attack, feared across formats for his ability to dismantle batting line-ups worldwide. His unique, whip-like action and pinpoint accuracy have made him a formidable weapon for India, though it has also brought injury concerns and strict workload management. A fully fit Bumrah, however, remains one of India’s most reliable match-winners.
Bumrah’s international journey began with his ODI debut against Australia in January 2016, quickly cementing his place across all formats. Yet, according to longtime pace partner Ishant Sharma, there’s an intriguing moment from his early domestic career that played a crucial role in accelerating his rise.
In a conversation with former cricketer Padamjeet Sehrawat on YouTube, Ishant recalled the 2015 Vijay Hazare Trophy final, where Bumrah’s five-wicket haul for Gujarat against Delhi left a lasting impression. “I remember we were playing the List A match, I think it was in 2016 (2015). We were playing the final in Bengaluru, Delhi vs Gujarat. Uss time vo bhaagta tha, properly bhaagte hue bowling karta tha. Abhi jaisa (slow) nahi. He picked five wickets in that game,” Ishant said, noting that Bumrah’s action was different but highly effective even then.
Reflecting on the moment, Ishant Sharma added, “After that, we went to Australia. I told Ravi bhai, ‘If we need anyone in this team, it’s Jasprit Bumrah’. I told him about Bumrah’s action and his bowling. Ravi bhai was the mentor of the team. And look at his luck… someone got injured, and Bumrah came into the team. From there till now, his mindset and self-belief makes him stand out.”
Bumrah’s ODI debut
Ishant Sharma was also part of the playing XI during that game, witnessing Bumrah’s impactful start to his international career firsthand.
