After India set a below par 230 runs target against defending champions Engaldn on Sunday, Bumrah, as he usually does, gave the hosts early breakthroughs by dismissing Dawid Malan and Joe Root off successive deliveries in the fifth over.
Partnering with equally impressive Mohammed Shami (4-22), Bumrah (3-32) helped India bundle out England for 129 in 34.5 overs to register a thumping 100-run victory, their sixth in a row in the World Cup.
“Bumrah ne gumrah kar diya..kya ball seam ho raha hein..beautiful. Around the wicket, unplayable to the left handers. The length…That’s how you create pressure,” Akram said in a discussion on ‘A Sports’
“From the first over itself, he’s [Bumrah] bowling inswings and a couple of outswings. His length and seam positions are impeccable. Yorkers at will…He is the best in the world right now. Top of the ladder, the way he is performing, the control, pace, the variations, he is just a complete bowler. Treat to watch,” Akram said.
Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq was mesmerised by Bumrah’s ability to swing with the new ball.
“He is swinging with the new ball. You (Akram) used to practise by tapping the ball to swing. Where is he getting swing from the new ball?” questioned Misbah.
“On such pitch, in such conditions, to bowl outswingers…To Bairstow, he bowled two outswingers and the next two deliveries were inswingers, it went through the gap and the keeper caught it above shoulder. Pace, carry, follow through, you named it. Everything. Complete bowler, mentally and physically,” Akram added.
To which Misbah said: “To bowl an outswinger to a left-hander from that angle, that is very very difficult.”
“When Bumrah bowls to left-handers around the wicket, he bowls similar to my outswingers to right-handers. But Bumrah has better control than me with the new ball” Akram admits with a smile.
Fans celebrate as India thrash defending champions England in style, Rohit Sharma plays a captain’s knock
“His length and line are so accurate, batters have no clue how to play them,” Misbah added.
“The kind of length he bowls with the new ball, it creates uncertainty for the batters. Only remedy for Bumrah is to put pressure on him. Uski boot chori kar lo, bowling na kar paye,” Akram said on a lighter note.
After six consecutive wins, India moved up to the top of the World Cup standings and will play Sri Lanka on Thursday in their next game.