IND vs ENG: Stuart Broad reveals when Jasprit Bumrah becomes most threatening bowler

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Certain bowlers in the game of cricket possess a mystique that sends shivers down the spine of even the most seasoned batsmen. Recently, Stuart Broad, the legendary England fast bowler, shared his insights on facing one such bowler - Jasprit Bumrah.

Broad - one of the greatest pacers to have ever graced the Gentlemen's Game - admitted that during his playing days, confronting Bumrah was a daunting task, akin to facing the enigmatic Sri Lankan pacer, Lasith Malinga.

In his column for the Daily Mail, Broad elucidated on the challenges posed by Bumrah's unorthodox bowling action, which he described as "incredibly hard to pick." Drawing parallels with Malinga's distinctive round-arm release, Broad emphasised that Bumrah's deliveries present a unique puzzle for batsmen to solve.

"Facing him isn't like facing anyone else in the world and I used to hate it. Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga, with his slingy round-arm release, had that point of difference about him and Bumrah has something similar in that his deliveries are incredibly hard to pick up," Broad wrote in his column for Daily Mail.

Bumrah's recent exploits in the second Test match between India and England in Visakhapatnam garnered widespread acclaim. His astonishing figures of 9/91 on a seemingly placid surface left spectators and pundits alike in awe, with many hailing it as one of the finest displays of fast bowling witnessed in Indian Test cricket.

Notably, his spellbinding performance played a pivotal role in India's resounding 106-run victory, with his remarkable 6/45 in the match also propelling him to the distinction of becoming the fastest Indian pacer to claim 150 Test wickets.

Of particular note was Bumrah's masterful dismissal of Joe Root, a seasoned batsman with an illustrious Test career. Broad underscored the significance of Root's struggles against Bumrah, asserting that if a batsman of Root's calibre finds it challenging to negotiate Bumrah's deliveries, then it's a testament to the latter's prowess.

"If someone as good as Joe Root is habitually struggling with a particular bowler, you can bet your bottom dollar that every batter on the Test scene will be." The right-arm pacer - who had picked up 604 Tests in 167 matches - further extolled Bumrah's impact on the Indian team, acknowledging his versatility across formats.

"Jasprit Bumrah has a unique action and there's no doubting that India are a much better team with him in it. He's an incredible Twenty20 bowler, but as his record of 152 wickets at just 20.28 runs each attests, he is even more effective in Test cricket. Statistically, he is right up there with the very best to have played the game," Broad further wrote.

Bumrah's adeptness at reverse swing further adds to his repertoire, making him a potent threat even on unresponsive pitches in India. Broad highlighted the subtle variations in Bumrah's reverse swing, which constantly keep batsmen guessing, further cementing his status as one of the premier bowlers in contemporary cricket.

"What makes him so dangerous when reverse-swing comes into play is that he doesn't tend to get the ball hooping - and therefore needing to start it on an exaggerated line to have an effect - but moving a very subtle amount to keep batters guessing," he added.

Broad's insights offer a fascinating glimpse into the challenges posed by Bumrah's unorthodox bowling style. His remarkable performances continue to captivate cricket enthusiasts worldwide, underscoring his stature as a formidable force in the realm of fast bowling.