Exclusive! Jasprit Bumrah is a class act, he needs to be preserved, says Sunil Valson

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Sunil Valson bowled as a left-arm quick at a time when Indian speedsters were never considered menacing. For those who may have been too young to watch Kapil Dev and his devils win the Prudential Cup in 1983 at The Lord's, Valson was part of the squad but did not get to play a match.

He does not mind it, for the campaign was all about India winning the Cup. Valson has been captured in the movie '83' which is a good recall for those who missed the historic moments, 41 years ago. It is still celebrated.

Not one of those who gives too many interviews, Valson agreed to speak to MyKhel on how fast bowling in India has changed. He pointed out how the current generation fast bowlers are now in demand and how much a speedster like Jasprit Bumrah has been able to bamboozle batters around the world.

"Bumrah is a class act and a fantastic case study of how India cricket manages fast bowlers today," said Valson, as starter. "In my time, in the 70s, it was a privilege to bowl even at nets with the Indian team and it was not easy for the fast bowlers to break into the national side.

"I recall, how Bishan Bedi encouraged me to bowl fast at the nets with the Indian team, those words were inspiring. At the same time, when I bowled to Jimmy (Mohinder Amarnath during his hey days, he would offer so much feedback and encouragement to me," said Valson.

When he spoke, there was no sadness, it was sincere praise for how the system has developed. "Look at Bumrah as a case study, how he got injured and made a comeback. I mean, when we went to the 1983 World Cup, we had no doctor or physio to guide us. We had to ask the English guys around for some help.

"Contrast that with today, the support system is fantastic. I mean, I am all praise for the NCA and how fast bowlers are taken care of. Bumrah getting injured and then staying strong today and being a front-line bowler, he is a real treasure for Indian cricket.

"He is once in a lifetime bowler, despite his unconventional action. I think India should just preserve him and use him like this where he can prey on the mind of Aussie batters or even others who find it difficult to play him," said Valson.

And the former Delhi cricketer, who was also involved with Delhi Daredevils in the early days of the IPL said captaincy is not something Bumrah should be really looking at it in long run.

"I mean, he has done so much for India, for me, as a fast bowler how long he can continue and deliver crucially is so important. This is my personal view," stressed Valson. It was hint, captaincy will be a burden.

At a time when Mohammed Shami is doing rehab and has returned to domestic cricket, Vaslon tracks that as well. "Shami may never have been very fast but as a bowler who generates prodigious swing, the way his comeback post injury is another fantastic story of the Indian support system.

"His recovery and playing first class cricket are being monitored. I feel happy about it since in my days there was no expert to go to if I had a back problem. Shami's return is well-planned and he can still be a potent bowler, he has that passion," emphasised Valson.

On younger fast bowlers like Harshit Rana, who Valson has watched, there is praise. "This generation of fast bowlers and medium pacers from India is fearless. It's a change in mindset and how they are ready to bowl aggressively.

"I will give full credit to the IPL for this change. Nobody can say the IPL has done bad things for Indian cricket. A bowler like Harshit Rana grabbed his chance in Perth and to be bowling so well for KKR and also for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy, this is to be appreciated," gushed Valson.

Not one who likes to get dragged into conversations in and around the IPL, Valson opened up, finally. "If you look at the way the IPL auction was held, it's good to see many Indian fast bowlers getting recognised. There is no craze just for fast bowlers from overseas any longer. This shows the IPL as a great tournament which has done good for India and unearth talent.

"There are so many fast bowlers from home who have been picked and they do not hesitate in bowling to batters who are big names. At the same time, these fast bowlers are also handled very well. There is a scientific support staff to back them. If there is workload management and a scientific team working and monitoring them (fast bowlers) in IPL, it's wonderful to see this happen," concluded Valson.

He had interesting notes to also share each team the 1983 team meets in New Delhi, courtesy Kapil Dev, on June 25 in the Capital. At the same time, when Mohinder Amarnath launched his book "Fearless: A Memoir," in New Delhi last week, Valson came for it.

It was an evening well spent in the Capital for the 1983 team members who still have so much to share. Most of them feel happy how Indian cricket is evolving and growing stronger, with more care for the cricketers.