Jasprit Bumrah: You can't achieve success by bowling only yorkers

Gujarat pacer Jasprit Bumrah burst into the limelight by bowling lethal yorkers in the Indian Premier League to trouble the batsmen time and again, which subsequently helped him receive the India cap in Jan 2016. His death-bowling was instrumental in India winning the T20 series against Australia 3-0. Subsequent successes in limited-overs cricket, including the Asia Cup and ICC World T20, have now made him the bowling spearhead and death-over specialist in the Indian squad.

 But he believes that there is more to him than only yorkers. 

"You cannot be successful by just bowling Yorkers. Nobody can bowl six out of six yorkers. So you have to mix your pace. You have to bowl bouncers, mix up the pace. In practice, I don't only bowl Yorker," Bumrah told PTI on the sidelines of Gujarat's Ranji Trophy match against Bengal.

"I practice death bowling. Yorker is similar to bowling a length ball. The more you bowl, the better you get at it. I bowled yorkers for Gujarat and Mumbai Indians. Before that I used to play tennis ball cricket. I don't know but that could also be a reason. I practise. I give proper time to death bowling," he added.

Bumrah gave credit to the two finest pace bowlers of the yesteryear Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis for his fascination towards pace-bowling.

"As I played a lot of tennis ball cricket, I used to watch Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis a lot. Then Mitchell Johnson. These three used to be my favourites and I would try and copy them. Also Brett Lee (bowled lethal yorkers)."

Bumrah, who has played a total of 8 ODIs and 21 T20Is all under the leadership of MS Dhoni, praised his skipper highly for his success.

"He (Dhoni) has been such an experienced captain. He has played India for a long time. He helps us. Tells us what do exactly on what kind of wickets. He gives us a picture of what to expect and that helps us to express ourselves. You can then try new stuff knowing that captain has confidence in you."

A bowler with an awkward action, Bumrah has not been able to earn the selectors’ faith for Test matches. The pacer said, “It's always easier to play four-day after one-day unlike reverse. In ODIs, one uses variations in short span of time. In longer format one needs to be consistent for a longer duration. It's a test of skill and as professionals we need to adapt.”