India’s sensational pacer Jasprit Bumrah is hailed as one of the best bowlers of modern-era and one of the greatest bowlers to have played for the Indian cricket team. However, his journey to becoming the player he is today wasn’t easy, as he lacked support to develop his game.
From Criticism to Confidence: Jasprit Bumrah’s Rise
After the second Test match of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Adelaide, Jasprit Bumrah talked about his journey to becoming one of the world’s top bowlers. He revealed that in his early days, many people doubted his potential because of his unique bowling action.
The Indian pacer, known for his unique bowling action and exceptional skill, shared that critics doubted his potential and even predicted that his style wouldn’t last. As a result, he didn’t receive much guidance or support in his early years.
Speaking on Fox Cricket, Jasprit Bumrah said:
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“I don’t think a lot of people believed in me because they thought that this bowling action will not last for long. He’ll play for six months, seven months. So not really a lot of people worked on me or, you know, gave me inputs that, you know, I think this is useful or you should stop doing that because. I don’t think they saw a lot of merit.”
The 31-year-old pacer added, “I think that worked out in my favour because. I was self-reliant then and I had to have a lot of self-belief and find out solutions on my own. So yes, nobody tried to change me, but nobody gave any extra solutions. So that worked out for the best in the greater interest, but then that helped me develop, you know.”
Self-Reliance: Building Mental Toughness
It could have broken any player, but Jasprit Bumrah stayed strong. Instead of getting discouraged, he used the lack of support as a chance to improve his skills and build his determination. Bumrah emphasized that not having any help allowed him to focus on improving on his own.
The right-arm fast bowler shared that he focused on building mental strength and trusting himself to overcome challenges. Bumrah honed his natural talent without sticking to traditional techniques, allowing him to grow as a bowler.
This approach helped him keep his unique bowling action and develop a better understanding of his game. Over time, his resilience and confidence made him India’s top fast bowler in all formats.
Bumrah signed off by saying, “I started my cricket quite late at 16, 17. I’d got no formal coaching ever. So, I learned everything through the television and somehow picked up cues and kept on finding my own solutions. So that’s worked with me till date that. I rely on my own instincts and gut.”
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