Jasprit Bumrah is the first name that comes to mind when you speak about premium fast bowlers. A find of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Bumrah has been India’s backbone across formats. His exceptional
talent has helped him over the years to rise through the ranks and even lead the country in Tests and T20Is. But how did Bumrah burst into the scene?
Everyone knows that he made his IPL debut in 2013, for the Mumbai Indians, and his first wicket was former RCB skipper Virat Kohli. But how did MI unearth the generational talent, tells former India head coach John Wright, who had also worked with the franchise.
Speaking to the New Indian Express, Wright modestly revealed how he helped the Mumbai Indians to get Bumrah in 2013.
“I was just fortunate enough to turn up at the right place at the right time all those years ago, which is 2013,” Wright told the national daily.
“I have just begun my coaching with the Mumbai Indians. I went to Ahmedabad to watch the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match. I saw him bowl two overs. And then I immediately asked Parthiv Patel, who was the captain of Gujarat, ‘who it was,’ and he said it’s Boom. Parthiv was very complimentary in his potential,” remembered Wright.
Bumrah’s action was obviously the eye catcher, but his speed and the stubbornness to decimate the batter with a barrage of Yorkers prompted Wright to refer him to the MI management, which signed the pacer overnight.
“Gujarat were playing Mumbai in a T20 match, and he tried to bowl two overs of yorkers. Nothing else. He had an unusual action, and he looked like he was pretty quick,” Wright said.
“So, I found Rahul Sanghvi, who was the person I reported to at MI, and I don’t know what happened after that. There was no auction in those days. We signed him immediately. He (Rahul) must have phoned, maybe, the owners, Nita Ambani, who was in charge of the team. And by the morning, we had signed him.”
“So, then he joined us. We also had Axar Patel there at that time. Actually, they were good friends, and they were the youngest in our squad. So, it was a lucky break for us. So that’s how I found Jasprit.”
Wright, 71, admitted that he still enjoys watching Bumrah on TV.
“Well, I sort of sit quietly and watch on the television and enjoy watching him (Bumrah) bowl,” he said.
“He’s just one of a kind, really, because he’s played across all three formats and been successful in every one of them. So, he’s going to be rated way up there. The word great is bandied about, but, you know, he’s in that territory.”
