Ahead of the curtain raiser for the 11th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) between holders Mumbai Indians (MI) and two time champions Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium, MI bowling coach- Shane Bond, on Friday, lauded 24-year-old pacer Jasprit Bumrah's meteoric rise to the top of international bowling charts.
"He's progressed massively, just three seasons ago he was still finding his feet in IPL, now he's the number one bowler in T-20s, ODIs and he's been great in Tests as well," said the former New Zealand pacer.
"I think over the three years, everyone's seen the skills he's developed, he's a fine all-round bowler across all formats, and like a lot of the others, he's grown up as a person as well. All of a sudden now he's the senior bowler in the team, although, for me, he's still the same Jasprit I met three years ago, humble and hard-working," he added.
With the now retired Lasith Malinga's steady decline as a bowling threat, Bumrah has gradually assumed the responsibility of spearheading MI's bowling attack, doing so impressively, with 47 scalps in 46 outings in MI's blue and gold.
"I am very happy to be back from my break. I bowled a lot of overs in South Africa, and have been playing continuously throughout the year. It was a good break and a necessary one. It wasn't like I was sleeping at home, I was at NCA, training. The hunger is back and it feels good to be back," said Bumrah.
"I have played against CSK before. It's good to play against India teammates, although I will not be seeing this as a special challenge against a particular opponent," he added.
Bumrah also shrugged off suggestions of him being the frontline bowler for the team, saying, "As a bowling unit, which we have a very one, we do not depend on one particular bowler, we have got many varieties in our line-up and as a unit, if we create pressure, the job's done.
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