The narrative surrounding Jasprit Bumrah continues to expand. The Indian fast bowler currently stands as the top wicket-taker in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. As the No. 1 ranked bowler in the ICC Test Rankings, he has claimed 21 wickets across three matches, spearheading the bowling attack for the visiting team. Notably, Bumrah captained India in the first Test, leading to a commanding 295-run victory in the absence of Rohit Sharma.

Bumrah has captivated the attention of the Australian media and cricket analysts alike. Former Australian batsman Michael Hussey recounted his experiences with Jasprit Bumrah during his time with the Mumbai Indians. He reminisced about a conversation he had with the Indian pacer during a match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

In that particular IPL 2014 encounter, Bumrah took the wicket of AB de Villiers and followed it with a spirited send-off, gesturing towards the pavilion.

“He made a significant impact in the IPL. I recall having a serious discussion with him. In one of his early matches, he dismissed AB de Villiers, a renowned player, and gave him a rather exuberant send-off, which did not sit well with AB. He glared at Bumrah, and I distinctly remember pulling him aside to say, ‘mate, you don’t need to do that,’” Hussey shared on the Willow Talk Podcast.

“You possess such skill and talent that merely taking the wicket should suffice. That is the most substantial form of banter you can offer. If you wish to earn respect in the game and from your peers, it might be wise to refrain from send-offs,” he added.

Jasprit Bumrah has achieved the distinction of being the Indian bowler with the most wickets in Australia, recently surpassing Kapil Dev's record of 51 wickets.

“He is an incredibly humble and grounded individual; that behavior was somewhat out of character for Bumrah. He is genuinely a wonderful person. I thoroughly enjoy watching him bowl. He consistently wears a smile, remains calm, and is steady in his demeanor. He does not allow emotions to overwhelm him, and he is undoubtedly a remarkable talent,” Hussey remarked.

'Felt like I was using toothpick'

Jasprit Bumrah, who has achieved 194 wickets in 43 Test matches, made his debut in the longest format against South Africa in 2018. He played a significant role in India's victory in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy during the 2018-19 tour in Australia.

During the Melbourne Test, Bumrah delivered a remarkable slower ball to Shaun Marsh, and his outstanding performance in the Boxing Day Test remains memorable.

Initially, when Bumrah began his career, many doubted his potential to succeed at the Test level due to his unconventional bowling style.

"Not really surprised. He is unbelievable. I actually played a year with him in the IPL. I had one year at the Mumbai Indians. He was just a young kid coming through and I remember facing him in the nets and literally couldn’t get bat on ball. I felt like I was using a toothpick. I remember thinking oh I can’t even see the ball, can’t even pick the ball coming out of his hand. His action is so unique," remarked Hussey.

"My first impression was that I didn’t think he would even reach the crease. He was staggering with his run-up, and I was like what’s going on here, who the heck is this guy, and then suddenly woof the ball whistles past my eyebrows at 145kph," he continued.

Reflecting on the discussions surrounding Bumrah when he first entered the IPL, Hussey stated, “In India, initially all the talks were like how he will only succeed in the white ball cricket with that bowling action and that run up. It is too much pressure on the body. He can’t play Test cricket.”

“However, I always believed that he possesses the skills and ability, and if he has the desire to play Test cricket, he could, and isn’t he performing exceptionally well at the moment,” he concluded.

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