“That's similar to how Wasim Akram was viewed in his prime” - Ex-Sri Lankan pacer heaps praise on Jasprit Bumrah

Former Sri Lankan fast bowling all-rounder Farveez Mahroof feels the Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is the kind of bowler who needs to be preserved for the long run, managing his workload in a proper way.

Speaking exclusively to India Today, the former cricketer stated that 90 per cent of the batters around the world would name Bumrah when asked about the difficult bowler they had faced across formats.

"I think it's his action and ability now (that make him effective). I remember when I played against Jasprit in the Champions League, around 2013 or 2014. What I remember of him then and what I see now is a big difference. Gone are the days when he was, for example, just an inswing bowler to right-handers. Nowadays, he has developed an effective outswing as well. If you ask 90 per cent of the batters around the world, apart from India, who the most difficult bowler to face in any format is, they say Jasprit Bumrah. That's similar to how Wasim Akram was viewed in his prime," Mahroof said India Today in an exclusive chat.

Notably, Bumrah, who played only three Tests out of five in the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England, would be part of India’s T20I squad for the Asia Cup 2025 campaign.

Furthermore, Mahroof asserted that when a fast bowler delivers a ball, there would be immense stress on the back, kness and ankles, adding that injuries are inevitable because fast bowling is the hardest job in the game of cricket.

"He has done wonderfully well, but unfortunately, he keeps getting injured because of his back issues. Being a fast bowler myself, I understand what he is going through. It's important for him, as well as the BCCI, to manage his workload carefully going forward because Jasprit Bumrah is one of a kind. Players like him don't come into the system very often, so when he's there, it's crucial to maximise his international career. People have to understand that every time a fast bowler delivers a ball, more than three times their body weight goes through their body. This puts immense stress on the back, knees, ankles-everything," he said.

"It's a day-to-day struggle that every fast bowler faces. When you do this repeatedly over a long period, it takes a toll. For example, Jasprit played all five Tests in Australia and bowled tirelessly for many overs. That's the after-effect that contributed to his injury in Sydney. No matter how much fitness training you do, or how fit you are, injuries are inevitable because fast bowling is the hardest job in cricket. As a fan of Jasprit Bumrah, I just hope he keeps improving, continues to wear the national jersey, and maintains his hunger to play lots of cricket, which is a very good sign. I also hope he is well looked after, especially when it comes to managing his workload,” he concluded.

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