(ANI Photo)
Jasprit Bumrah, hailed as one of the premier fast bowlers of contemporary cricket, has showcased remarkable consistency across all formats, with his mastery of delivering yorkers standing out. Renowned Australian pace bowler Brett Lee has lauded Bumrah as one of the most well-rounded bowlers globally, emphasizing his exceptional proficiency in consistently executing yorkers, a skill few possess at present.
Presently situated in the USA as a member of India’s 2024 T20 World Cup contingent, Bumrah has shared insights into how he honed the art of this lethal delivery during his formative years.
“So I played a lot of tennis-ball, rubber-ball cricket when I was growing up,” Bumrah told ICC. “I used to play a lot with my friends in summer camps. And on summer vacations. Or whenever you used to get a lot of time.”
“So when I was a kid, I used to think that this is the only way to get wickets. Because I was a fan of fast bowling. I was really fascinated by what I saw on the television. So I tried to replicate that,” he added.
Bumrah feels that ‘repetition’ is the secret to bowling yorkers and even today, he keeps practicing it.
“Is it (tennis-ball cricket) a secret (to bowling yorkers) or not? I don’t know. But repetition surely is. Because I have kept this delivery. I still practice it. I keep on practicing it. Because every skill that you develop, you have to practice it and make it stronger. So I think a combination of both would be the answer,” the 30-year-old said.
Bumrah was absent from the 2022 T20 World Cup due to an ongoing back injury that also sidelined him for the entirety of IPL 2023 and the ICC World Test Championship final in England. Nevertheless, following a triumphant comeback, Bumrah emphasizes his shift in focus towards relishing the sport rather than dwelling on its inherent uncertainties.
“Since I have come back from my injury, I have only focused on enjoying the game as much as I can,” Bumrah said.
“Because (certain) things will go my way. (Certain) things will not go my way. All of these things will be a part of my process. So I have just realised that I started playing this sport. Because I love this sport. And I will focus on that rather than the end result. So in that aspect you reduce your pressure. And you enjoy the sport. When you focus on those things. Rather than the things you cannot control,” he added
