“Kids Imitating My Bowling Style…”: Jasprit Bumrah’s Advice for Aspiring Fast Bowlers

Following a stellar bowling performance against Bangladesh, Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah expressed his joy at inspiring the younger generation through his fast bowling. Bumrah’s remarkable spell, along with the efforts of his fellow pacers, put India in a commanding position at the close of day two in the first Test at Chennai. With this match, Bumrah reached a major milestone of 400 wickets in international cricket, becoming the 10th Indian bowler to achieve this feat.

Speaking with JioCinema after the match, Bumrah shared his thoughts on being a role model. “I don’t really know how to react when people say I’m an inspiration,” he remarked. “When I was young, I was a fan of fast bowling and learned a lot just by watching television. I fell in love with the sport that way. Now, when I see kids trying to mimic my bowling action, I don’t recommend it. But, sometimes it just happens – you get inspired by something and end up finding your own style. I’m really happy if I can make an impact.”

Bumrah also stressed the importance of staying balanced in his career. “I don’t let praise get to my head or criticism bring me down,” he explained. “I always aim to give my best, and playing for India has been my dream. So, no complaints – I’ll keep giving my all as long as I can.”

As for the match itself, Bangladesh opted to field after winning the toss, and India’s top order struggled. They were quickly reduced to 34/3, but Yashasvi Jaiswal (56 off 118 balls) and Rishabh Pant (39 off 52 balls) fought back with a 62-run partnership. Later, Ravichandran Ashwin (113 off 133 balls) and Ravindra Jadeja (86* off 117 balls) added a crucial 199-run stand, guiding India to 376 in 91.2 overs.

Bangladesh’s Hasan Mahmud starred with the ball, taking 5/83 and dismantling India’s top order, which included Rohit Sharma (6), Shubman Gill (0), and Virat Kohli (6). Taskin Ahmed also chipped in with three wickets for 55 runs.

In reply, Bangladesh’s batting lineup faltered, with key players like Shakib Al Hasan (32), Litton Das (22), and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (27*) showing brief resistance. However, Bumrah (4/50) and Akash Deep (2/19) were relentless, backed by Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja who each took two wickets.

At the end of day three, India was 81/3 in their second innings, leading by 308 runs, with Shubman Gill (33*) and Rishabh Pant (12*) at the crease after early dismissals of Rohit Sharma (5), Yashasvi Jaiswal (10), and Virat Kohli (17).