The outgoing bowling coach of the Indian men’s cricket team, Paras Mhambrey, has praised Jasprit Bumrah, proceeding to identify him as the best bowler in the world today. Reflecting on Bumrah’s performance, Mhambrey said in an interview with The Hindu on July 15, 2024, that ‘First of all, he is a freak. I can’t call him anything less than that.’ The coach feels that Bumrah is a ‘once-in-a-generation bowler’.
Mhambrey continued on the commentaries about Bumrah, saying,
He is one of the best that this game has seen, and if you look at the format you have—T120, he’s one of the best; one-dayers, he is one of the best; even Test cricket, he is right up there.
A Journey of Setbacks and Achievements
Mhambrey became a member of the Indian team in November 2021 when Rahul Dravid, the team’s head coach, recruited him to be a part of his support staff, and the season ended on a successful note with a T20 World Cup victory last year.
Still, the ‘tough journey’ was a tad bumpy. Especially due to Bumrah’s injury lay-off due to a sore back. The highlight of Mhambrey’s coaching tenure was the comeback and regain of his original form by Bumrah.
During the interview, Mhambrey humorously downplayed his role in Bumrah’s success, stating:
It’s a great opportunity for me to take credit, saying that I have told Bumrah, this is the way we need to go. This is what you need to bowl, you know.
The interviewer suddenly interjected, ‘But you wish you could take that credit’, he asked while laughing.
Bumrah’s Remarkable Comeback
The primary focus was on the fact that all the light that was made about Bumrah’s great comeback was to be laid directly at the feet of the bowler.
Just the way he regained his fitness after that accident was something that I had not expected to see. I can’t recall anybody passing through back surgery, returning, and being as productive, if not more, as he was in the earlier years.
Currently, there is so much maturity that is eager to assume responsibility for the team proactively. He knows that his job is not only to go and win games for the country, which he does fabulously, but his role is a lot more to be the guiding light around the younger guys.
A Fulfilling Tenure with the National Team
Mhambrey’s cricketing career saw him as a probable for the 1996 World Cup, but he missed out on the final squad. Reflecting on his coaching tenure with the national team, he described it as “satisfying.” Being part of the setup that clinched the ICC Trophy in his final assignment was particularly gratifying for him.
You are a world champion, a part of that team. Nothing like that feeling… and also the satisfaction… all the amount of work that you have done, it’s been rewarded.
There may have been a lot of lows, less highs. But to be able to overcome that and just finish the term with the World Cup in what was my last assignment, to be able to finish with the win, I think that’s satisfying and rewarding. So exiting with happy memories and a lot of learnings.
At 31, there are still a few more years that we will get to see the fast bowler in action. He is a clear inspiration to a lot of young children around the world to become future cricketers. Especially in India, where everyone wanted to become a batsman, it’s because of Bumrah, that people want to pick up the ball.
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