R Ashwin names Jasprit Bumrah as India's most valuable cricketer
Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has named fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah as the nation's most valuable cricketer, overlooking star batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. This recognition comes in light of Bumrah's exceptional performance since his return to international cricket in August 2023. Ashwin made this announcement during a conversation with Vimal Kumar on his YouTube channel. Here are further details.
Bumrah's impressive performance in World Cup and Test cricket
Bumrah has been a key player for India since his comeback, following a back injury. He was the fourth-highest wicket-taker in the ODI World Cup 2023 with 20 wickets, and later climbed to the number one rank in Test bowling rankings in February 2024. In T20Is, he has taken an impressive 19 wickets from 10 matches at an average of just 8.57 with an economy rate of only 4.32.
Bumrah's contribution to India's T20 World Cup victory
Bumrah played a crucial role in India's triumphant campaign in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, taking 15 wickets from eight matches with a record-breaking economy rate of 4.17. His outstanding performance earned him the Player of the Tournament award in this global event. Since his return to international cricket post-injury, Bumrah has claimed 31 wickets from six Test matches at an average of just 15.35 with two five-wicket hauls under his belt.
Ashwin compares Bumrah's reception to superstar Rajinikanth
Ashwin compared Bumrah's popularity to that of film superstar Rajnikanth, during his recent visit to Chennai. "We Chennai people appreciate bowlers a lot. He was here for an event as a chief guest 4-5 days ago. We gave him a Rajni treatment," Ashwin said. He further emphasized that while India is typically dominated by batters, it's refreshing to see a bowler like Bumrah receive such recognition and celebration for his talent.
