Jasprit Bumrah Warrants Same Respect as India's Batting Greats

Jasprit Bumrah is undoubtedly one of the greatest fast bowlers of the modern era of cricket. His technical ability is unparallelled and his record under pressure places him among the most feared bowlers of the world. Whether it is T20 or Test cricket, Bumrah has repeatedly shown that he is match-winner. But Ravichandran Ashwin recently posted some adamant opinions that although Bumrah has gained gigantic respect from fans as well as cricketers alike he still isn't given the same amount of respect which all-time great batters such as Sachin Tendulkar Virat Kohli or even Rohit Sharma enjoy in India.

Ashwin had no such inhibitions when discussing Bumrah on his YouTube channel. When he was asked if Bumrah is the type of player all teams in the world would like to have in their side, Ashwin sidestepped the question but couldn't help showering him with genuine praise. He said he has complimented Bumrah in the past and will do so again but he is not a kind of person who makes drama or does something just for the sake of it. He labeled Bumrah as a fabulous cricketer and said that would suffice to say about his talent and brilliance.

As per Ashwin there is still a difference in the way fast bowlers are treated by the fans and batsmen. While the likes of Kohli Tendulkar and Rohit are showered with huge affection and respect Bumrah though being a game-changer is not being fêted in the same manner. Ashwin opined that Bumrah has a lot of fans and people love him so much. He even referred to himself as Bumrah's number one fan although initially jokingly added that Bumrah's wife could be fighting with him for that place. Ashwin's admiration and love for Bumrah were quite evident in his whole video.

The peculiarity of Bumrah's bowling action is something that all cricket lovers tend to observe. His short run-up and slingy action are hard to tackle. It. But for Ashwin, it is not only a matter of how various Bumrah appears when bowling. What really makes him world-class is how he delivers each ball. Ashwin talked about how Bumrah rattled an outstanding batter like Joe Root in a recent game. Root had no idea how to play Bumrah's delivery. He misread the length and edged the ball to the slips. That is the level of accuracy Bumrah applies to each and every match. It is evidence of why he is rated as so deadly.

There was another instance Ashwin mentioned of Bumrah's ball to Zak Crawley. That delivery, according to him, was special. Bumrah was almost straight in his action but he was able to place the ball precisely on middle stump. It was not just pure pace or a sharp angle. It was all about controlling wrist position balance and fitness levels needed to bowl such deliveries on a consistent basis. Ashwin spoke about the amount of hard work involved in sustaining such high performances and physical fitness levels. It is this invisible effort that makes Bumrah stand apart.

Ashwin also spoke about how proud he is to have played with Bumrah. He mentioned that he has witnessed many special wins and great games playing alongside him. He also said that Bumrah is a legend in his own right and could be even greater than some of India's greatest batters for overall influence on the sport. These are strong words from a person like Ashwin who himself is one of India's leading bowlers.

It is not simple for an Indian fast bowler to attain superstar level. The nation has never been so enamored with batting heroes. Players who score centuries and win matches with the bat are loved and appreciated more. But all that changed with the rise of Bumrah who delivers match-winning performances consistently. He puts heart into his bowling he performs when it counts and he captains the pace attack with pride and technique. The manner in which he bowls during death overs in limited-overs cricket or the way he dismantles partnerships in Tests is something that very few bowlers are able to do consistently.

Bumrah has also emerged as a role model for young Indian cricketers. He showed that you don't have to possess a textbook bowling action to be good. More important is how you execute your strengths and understand your game. His path from being a home talent to becoming one of the world's top fast bowlers is nothing short of inspiring. He has proved that through hard work concentration and self-confidence anybody can become great even in a nation where batters usually get all the attention.

Ashwin's comments might sound harsh but they are based on reality. The admiration Bumrah receives worldwide can be enormous but in India there is still a requirement to accord him the same respect we would accord an iconic batsman. When a bowler such as Bumrah leads the team out of tough spots takes crucial wickets and win matches for India he should be praised in the same manner a batsman would be if he had taken a hundred in a tricky game.

Jasprit Bumrah is not another fast bowler. He is a generation bowler who continues to redefine fast bowling. He has deserved every ounce of the respect he gets but he deserves better. More applause more backing and more affection from fans who have witnessed him grow into the legend that he now is. Ravichandran Ashwin's own words are a timely reminder at times we must see through tradition and credit where credits are due. Bumrah has carried the Indian team on his shoulders too many times and it is time he is feted as much as the cricketing legends of his time.