Wah re wah, Bumrah!

Over the last few years, India have had an obsession for fast bowlers. At a certain stage, they got some who could swing big but lacked speed, and some who had raw pace but no control. The struggle to find that complete bowler after Zaheer Khan had no end until a few days ago, a 22-year-old boy from Gujarat made his India debut.

Before the fifth ODI against Australia in Sydney, Jasprit Bumrah was known more as a Mumbai Indians seamer with a weird action. Five days later, he is touted as the next big thing in Indian cricket.

The 22-year-old Gujarat fast bowler has gone on to impress many with not just his figures in his debut matches (2/40 in 5th ODI) and (3/23 in 1st T20I) against Australia, but also the talent that he possesses.

A tall and lanky Bumrah doesn't come across as your typical fast bowler with a smooth action. His action is deceptive. The ball is directed in towards a right-handed batsman, but difficult to read after pitching which makes him dangerous. On top of that, his pace – Bumrah can bowl 135 km plus consistently — gives him the extra edge.

His ability to mix his pace – leg and off-cutters – and the toe-crushing yorkers (ask Ishant Sharma who was his victim in Vijay Hazare Trophy final) makes him a bowler that India have been looking for many years.

The right-arm fast bowler's skills are not just limited to bowling to right-handers. He is also as effective against southpaws, making him a complete bowler.

Australian fast bowler Damien Fleming is impressed with the young fast bowler and felt that India should invest in him. "I liked the look of him. He was the bowler of the match for me in Sydney, and he has done very well here in Adelaide too. He obviously isn't lacking in confidence after playing for Mumbai Indians in the IPL. He has a unique action and I hope his body holds up well in international cricket," Fleming said on Wednesday.

"Because he is quick and has good bounce, and he even bowled well in the death overs (in both matches), and Indian cricket should be investing in someone like that," added Fleming.

Gujarat coach Vijay Patel has seen Bumrah for sometime and felt he's a 'complete product' that India were looking for. "I don't know which fast bowler had an unorthodox action. Today, all come from academies with typical actions," Patel said when asked if he had seen anyone with a different action.

Patel said that his ward was a complete natural. "He is naturally talented. He is unorthodox bowler with a deceptive action. He has not developed his action to bowl like how he is bowling but he has been the same from Under-19 days," he added.

The coach believed that Bumrah has the ability to do well in all the formats. "Why not? If you look at his record, he has not done well in just white ball games – Vijay Hazare or T20s – but also in Ranji Trophy. He fetches more than 30 wickets every season. In fact, he bowls 30-plus overs in 90 overs during Ranji. India can use him in all the formats especially because he is just 22 right now," he said.

Many felt that with the kind of unusual action Bumrah bowls with, his chances of getting injured were high.

"I don't think so. He made his first-class debut three years back and he suffered only one injury i.e. ankle, that too while playing football. That saw him being out of action for one year. He is a fit guy and his thin and flexible frame helps him bowl longer."

Patel said he has been careful, though. "We have the best physios and trainers with us. We keep a track of him, the wear and tear of the body. There have been days where he has been asked to rest completely. Having gone a notch higher, I am sure he will get the best atmosphere and the facilities to remain that will help him bowl more."

Patel was also miffed with a commentator who suggested that Bumrah should try something to add extra pace. "He doesn't need to do anything. He is a complete package. Wasim Akram also said that when Bumrah can do wonders with whatever he has, he doesn't need to add pace," added Patel.