Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting praised Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, calling him as the "best multi-format bowler" and most feared bowler in modern cricket.
Bumrah, who struggled with injuries in 2022, made a strong comeback by winning the Player of the Tournament award in India's T20 World Cup 2024 triumph and he also finished as India's second highest wicket-taker in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
The Indian pacer is currently ranked eighth in the 50-over ICC rankings and joint-second in the Test rankings, but regardless, any fan or expert would not hesitate to rank him among the best bowler in all formats of the game.
"I've said it for a long time, he's probably been the best multi-format bowler there's been in world cricket for the last five or six years," Ponting said in an interview to the ICC review podcast.
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Is Jasprit Bumrah the most feared bowler in world cricket?
Ricky Ponting suggested that Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah is the most feared bowler in the bowler, as batters are afraid of facing his deadly deliveries.
"The greatest way to always get a real gauge on these players is by asking (other) players," Ponting said.
"And when you talk to opposition batsmen about him [Bumrah] in particular, it's always, 'No, he's a nightmare! You never know what's going to happen. One's going to swing, one's going to seam, he's going to bowl an in-swinger, he's going to bowl an out-swinger. And the consistency is there'," as the Australian captain revealed what batters think of Bumrah.
Further, Ponting went on to compare Bumrah to two of cricket's most consistent and successful bowlers, Glenn McGrath and James Anderson, saying that a great skillset and consistency, almost guarantees a player to end up with greatness.
"So, when you've got that skillset and the consistency that he has, then you're going to be a great player."
"Look at [Glenn] McGrath, look at [James] Anderson, these guys, their longevity and their skills being able to hold up for such a long period of time is what separates them from the rest," Ponting said.
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Ponting dismissed fears about Bumrah's potential back injuries that had plagued him in the past due to his bowling action, saying that he is now a completely transformed player.
"There might have been some fears a couple of years ago when the injuries come in and ‘would he come back the same?’, but I think he's actually come back better," Ponting said.
"If I watch what he did in the T20 World Cup – the pace is still there, there's nothing that's changed with the accuracy or what he can deliver. The skillset is all the same. He's getting better year on year. So, he would rank right up there," he concluded.
India will next play a two-match Test series against Bangladesh, starting September 19.
Several India players were asked to make themselves available for the Duleep Trophy 2024, ahead of the team's start of a hectic Test cricket schedule, against teams such as Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Australia.
However, Jasprit Bumrah was an exception, as the BCCI believed in providing him with additional rest as a part of the workload management, showing the fast bowler's importance to the management.
MORE: When will Jasprit Bumrah next play for India? Star pacer set to be rested ahead of key tours in 2024
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