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My first encounter with Jasprit Bumrah was in a club match during his teenage years, well before he became my teammate on the Indian national team.
There were other bowlers in that game who had first-class experience, but he possessed a distinctly different quality.
Today, as we’ve witnessed throughout the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, he stands as a complete bowler. However, back then, his defining attribute was his sheer pace. He was remarkably quick.
In the years that followed, he began to establish himself in the Indian Premier League. Yet, prior to his Test debut in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2018, significant doubts lingered about him within India.
His bowling action was unconventional, leading some to question his ability to swing the red ball and whether he possessed the consistency and control required for the longer format of the game.
Despite taking only four wickets in that inaugural Test, he effectively dispelled those doubts.
I recall standing at first slip with Virat Kohli beside me at second and Shikhar Dhawan at third. We all remarked on how his bowling felt uniquely different from that of other bowlers.
Although Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Hardik Pandya were also part of that game, Bumrah stood out. Shami was fast, but Bumrah possessed even greater velocity.
Throughout my career, I frequently fielded at first slip to Bumrah’s bowling, an experience that was truly unique.
Much has been said about the angle created by his action and his wide position on the crease, making it challenging for batters. However, it also poses difficulties for slip fielders.
The angles he generates necessitate that the wicketkeeper position themselves almost directly behind the stumps against right-handers, rather than on a fourth-stump line. This required me to move further over to narrow the gap.
It always felt as though he was jogging in from straight on. When combined with his skiddy trajectory, everything seemed even faster.
Bumrah would never scold a slip fielder for dropping a catch – he is far too amiable for that – but we often joked with him.
Off the field, Jasprit is an introvert who enjoys spending time in his room, not in a negative way, but simply because he values his own company.
A group of us – myself, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, and former wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha – would frequently play FIFA on the PlayStation while on tour, and it was always a challenge to persuade Jasprit to join us.
Eventually, we resorted to joking that we wouldn’t take any catches off his bowling if he didn’t participate.
Bumrah requires a skilled partner when playing FIFA, as gaming isn’t his forte. However, it was during his first tour of England in 2018 that he ascended to another level as a bowler.
By the time we toured Australia the following winter, we recognized that he was our wildcard, destined to play for India for a considerable time. He played an instrumental role in our first-ever series victory in Australia.
You may recall the remarkable inswinging delivery he bowled to Keaton Jennings on that tour of England, resulting in an lbw dismissal without Jennings offering a shot. England’s batters struggled to decipher his swing, and with the Dukes ball in hand for the first time, his movement was considerable.
Bumrah has claimed 217 wickets in just 47 Tests.
Had I bowled a delivery like that to Jennings, I would have been exuberantly celebrating and recounting the tale for ages. Jasprit, however, remained composed and never boasted.
He simply moves on to the next delivery.
In the dressing room, he is always observing the game. While most fast bowlers relax with their feet up after coming off the field, he remains attentive to the proceedings.
When I sat next to him, he would frequently offer insights into potential adjustments for our batters or the opposition, which is why he was considered a candidate for captaincy before India appointed Shubman Gill.
While many focus on Bumrah’s bowling skills, his angle, or his action, his most significant strength is often overlooked.
He possesses a brilliant cricket mind, honed during his time in the IPL, where he collaborated with figures like former Sri Lankan bowler Lasith Malinga, acquiring the skills to outwit batters.
His initial instinct is always to deliver his best ball. However, when a batter becomes settled, he assesses their strengths and weaknesses, applying the skills he’s learned in white-ball cricket to become a complete Test bowler.
One of my fondest memories from that England tour in 2018 occurred in Southampton, when Jasprit assisted me in reaching a century in the first innings.
I was on 96 when he came in at number 11, and I must admit, I didn’t believe I would reach the milestone. However, he approached me and declared, “I will defend. I cannot guarantee my survival, but I will do my utmost.”
I ultimately finished on 132 not out as we added 46 runs for the final wicket.
That day encapsulates his character, as he is a highly competitive cricketer whether batting or bowling.
Regarding his bowling, regardless of the match situation, he always desires and believes that he can take a wicket.
Ultimately, he is the quintessential team player.
Cheteshwar Pujara was speaking to BBC Sport’s Matthew Henry
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