Ricky Ponting hails Jasprit Bumrah's phenomenal fast-bowling in Border-Gavaskar Trophy

With India losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 1-3, it turned out to be an extraordinary Test series. Among one of the top performers was arguably the most spectacular bowler who grabbed the world's attention to cricket. Bumrah performed well enough not only to have impressed the world of cricket but also earned a phenomenal compliment from the former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting. Great batsman in the cricketing history and ICC Hall of Famer, Ponting said that the bowling of Bumrah was incredible and maybe the best fast bowling he had witnessed by any visiting bowler to Australia.

Bumrah bowled consistently and accurately in the series and thus was awarded 'Player of the Series'. The 31-year-old Indian pacer was the top wicket-taker of the five-match Test series, leaving behind an unbelievable 32 wickets in the series. For his spectacular performances in the series, experts acclaimed his relentless pace and sharp skills that had kept the Australian batsmen under severe duress through the entire course of the series. For instance, Bumrah's 32 wickets also equalized him with another Border-Gavaskar Trophy record.

Ricky Ponting, who has seen a lot of the greatest performances by great bowlers of Australia in his career, said that Bumrah's fast-bowling performance in this series was the best ever. Ponting commented, "No doubt, it’s probably the best series of fast bowling I’ve ever seen." He highlighted how, although the fast bowlers were afforded good conditions in the series, Bumrah's efforts stood out for their sheer brilliance. Ponting further added that relative to all the other bowlers in the series, Bumrah has made batting look more difficult and even Australia's top-order batters who are known for their quality, looked unsettled against him.

There was a massive moment when Bumrah surpassed former captain Kapil Dev to become India's leading wicket-taker in Test matches in Australia. With a remarkable 64 wickets at an average of 17.15, Bumrah overtook Kapil’s 51 wickets at 24.58. Additionally, Bumrah became India’s highest wicket-taker in a Test series in Australia, surpassing the legendary Bishan Singh Bedi’s 31 wickets with his own 32 wickets. This achievement solidified his place in Indian cricket history.

However, despite his dominant performances, Bumrah’s journey in the series was not without its setbacks. He had to retire from the field on Day 2 of the final Test match after spasms in his back. It then forced him out of part of the match, and he did not bowl for Australia in their second innings. During the post-match presentation, he explained the position, "Little frustrating but sometime you have to respect your body, you can't fight your body at times. Then you have to accept. The spiciest wicket that we played upon, I could have loved, just had that little discomfort following the first innings." The love of Bumrah in maintaining his level of fitness coupled with his sensitivity towards his own body was clearly there for everyone, and his true commitment towards seeing the team into success was much appreciated.

Bumrah's performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has assured him a position among the world's best fast bowlers. He has troubled the Australian batsmen consistently, and his impressive record made him stand out from the rest. Though India lost the series, Bumrah's efforts were a testament to his skill and determination. The bowling journey of the Indian pacer in Australia was remarkable, not only earning him accolades from experts like Ricky Ponting but also securing his place as one of the premier fast bowlers in international cricket.

The series will be remembered for Bumrah's brilliant fast bowling, and his record-breaking achievements have set new benchmarks for future cricketers to aspire to