IPL 2024 GT vs MI: Stuart Broad, Steve Smith Heap Praise On 'Skillful & Unbelivable' Jasprit Bumrah

Star Sports experts Stuart Broad and Steve Smith were full of praise for Jasprit Bumrah following the Mumbai Indians pacer's spell in the IPL 2024 match against Gujarat Titans on Sunday (March 24).

Bumrah, who missed action for MI last season due to injury, announced his return to IPL in style as he ended with figures of 3 for 14 in his fours over, but his heroics went in vain as the Mumbai Indians lost by 6 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmeadbad.

During an exclusive interview with Star Sports on Cricket Live, both Australian cricketer Steve Smith and former England cricketer Stuart Broad shared their thoughts on the 'unbeliavable and skillful bowler' Bumrah.

The 30-year-old did not get the new ball in the match, but bowled the fourth over in which he broke GT's opening stand. The skipper Hardik Pandya, who bowled himself in the first over, got a lot of stick for delayed introduction of Bumrah into the attack.

Former England cricketer Broad said that it was trademark Bumrah, who nailed a yorker to get the breakthrough for Mumbai Indians, and added that skipper Pandya as well as the team management will have to figure out when to use the talented pacer.

"That's what he does, it's just his trademark. He will beat you with the pace. He will beat you with his trajectory. It's an interesting one with the new ball, I feel like he asked to come on and get the first wicket of the day and set the tone," Broad said in an exclusive chat on Star Sports 'Cricket Live'.

"But whatever he is going to use he is going to be successful because of so much skill and so much talent. And it's just up to Hardik and team and management to figure out exactly where that will work."

Australian batter Smith praised the performance of unbelievable Bumrah against Gujarat Titans, highlighting the Mumbai Indians' ace pacer's skills and impact on the game.

"He is such a good bowler. We know that he has been such an unbelievable bowler for so many years. It's great to see him back after obviously missing last year. He created a good impact in the very first game," Smith said in an exclusive chat on Star Sports 'Cricket Live'.

"He bowled beautifully: 3 for 14, on what looked like a pretty good wicket. I think playing here, it doesn't give you much but try to get to wickets and that's the best place to be."

Meanwhile Broad also discussed Mumbai Indians' loss in their first match of the season, acknowledging both the excitement of the game and the disappointment of the outcome.

"Yeah, absolutely. Games have become so exciting in these final overs. I must admit when Hardik Pandya hit that first ball of the last over for six, I thought they are going to win this and it is going to be a fairy tale story," Broad added.

"But as Ravi said, Mumbai Indians not winning the first game, I don't think it's done too much harm, I think there are lots of positive signs for Mumbai Indians in this game.

"But it's extremely disappointing that they threw away their position because we know how things are to come by and the advantage of the home team in this stage of the IPL."

Hardik and Mumbai Indians will look to bounce back when they face Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad next in IPL 2024 on Wednesday (March 27).