Jasprit Bumrah’s impressive run in Australia draws praise from former India coach John Wright

John Wright said that Jasprit Bumrah has a bright road ahead for both India as well as for Mumbai Indians.

Jasprit Bumrah‘s commendable performances in the recently-concluded tour of Australia, in which he made both his One-Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) debuts, has found praise from former India coach John Wright. The former New Zealand cricketer gave credit to the national selectors led by Sandeep Patil, adding that Bumrah had matured a lot as a bowler by the time he made his debut, adding that he is a bright prospect for the road ahead for both India as well as Indian Premier League (IPL) defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI), which has had Bumrah in its roster since 2013. READ: MS Dhoni impressed by Jasprit Bumrah in India vs Australia T20I series

“I think the selectors have done a great job picking him this year; not too early, but because he has really matured. He didn’t bowl that great last year, because he was recovering from a leg operation, I think knee.

“But he’s had three years of learning with the State and MI and when I saw him in the 50 overs competition this year a month back, he had really come on this year. Which is good for India and MI,” Wright was quoted as saying according to The Hindu. READ: In Jasprit Bumrah, India may have found a death bowler of some class

According to the report, Wright is said to be the first to discover Bumrah’s talent, doing so as a talent scout for Mumbai Indians during a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 tournament. After watching a Bumrah spell, Wright reportedly spoke to Gujarat captain Parthiv Patel in order to gather his opinion on Bumrah, before sending a mail to the Mumbai Indians management in order to add Bumrah to their side.

“I was watching Gujarat’s death overs and for the first time Bumrah. He bowled at good pace, a couple of overs of really good yorkers with an unusual action.

“He really impressed; he bowled one ball that must have landed in the bowler’s footmarks at the other end, and it took off over Parthiv Patel’s head who was keeping, and went for four byes,” Wright said in the report.

“Immediately after the match I had a quick word with Parthiv whom I’d coached with India and who’s opinion I valued and he asked him if this kid was okay and was good as he looked to me. He confirmed that he was very promising and he got the ball through.

“So about 40 minutes after the match I rang Rahul Sanghvi, our MI manager, and said I’d seen this kid who looked a great prospect. And we signed him that night or the next day,” added Wright.