Unlike his precise deliveries, Jasprit Bumrah’s press conferences can be elaborate affairs. The Indian spearhead with an air of a headmaster speaks at a leisurely pace while giving voice to wide-ranging perspectives. After concluding a statement, he often offers a half-smile before moving on to the next query.

But on Wednesday (January 15), he posted a pithy line on X, formerly Twitter. And it read: “I know fake news is easy to spread but this made me laugh.” There was a smiley emoticon and a few more words, but the message was driven home, just like his yorkers zooming past wilting legs and flailing bats.

National significance

The import of his utterance was akin to a radio announcement about a cyclone crossing the coast without causing damage to life and property, at worst maybe knocking down a few coconut trees. There was an overwhelming sense of relief. Bumrah was reacting to a story doing the rounds about how he has been advised bed rest due to a bulge in his back.

Just like Sachin Tendulkar’s tennis-elbow in the past, Bumrah’s back is quite the rage in news circles. Currently, the world’s finest pace bowler is nursing a back injury suffered during the recent Sydney Test. While worst-possible scenarios are being trumped up, his social media post tried to quell these needless fires.

Obviously, more transparency from the BCCI would be appreciated as no official proclamation has been made. We just have Bumrah’s reaction for now. In hindsight, the injury seemed inevitable. Bearing the weight of the Indian attack, the pacer has been the pivot on which India’s fortunes rested during the recent tour Down Under.

Statistically, Bumrah bowled fewer overs (151.2) than Pat Cummins (167). But the Australian captain had the support of Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and partly Josh Hazlewood. Despite Mohammed Siraj’s 20 scalps, for Bumrah it was often a lonely road. He had to strike at will, choke the runs and always dispense hope. It was a burden too heavy to bear, physically and psychologically. Add to it a batting line-up that did not offer a cushion of runs, and the picture gets even more ghastly.

Australia prevailed 3-1 to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the five-Test series but it was a result much closer than the final number suggests. Leading this resistance was Bumrah, also skipper in the first and last Tests at Perth and Sydney, respectively. His 32 wickets at 13.06 were from the top-drawer of fast-bowling excellence.

The host batters had no clue to the thunderbolts he unleashed while analysts delved into the speedster’s hyper-extension. Travis Head and Sam Konstas may have tried to unsettle Bumrah with their unconventional shots but the Indian pacer often had the last word. It came to such a pass that Usman Khawaja admitted to being ‘Bumrah’d’.

Making an impact

It is a tribute to Bumrah’s impact that the Aussies grudgingly admitted to gaining an advantage while mounting a fourth-innings chase at Sydney as the speedster could not bowl owing to back spasms. Maybe India would have prevailed if he had bowled and the series tied at 2-2. For now, they all remain in the realm of conjecture.

In terms of a fast-bowler leaving a singular impact on a long series, cast your eyes all the way back to the 1982-1983 season when India toured Pakistan. Imran Khan was at his destructive best and bagged 40 wickets to derail Sunil Gavaskar’s men. This was a great cricketer imposing his will. These days, Bumrah does that too.

Ever since he was pitchforked into the national side after catching the eye in the Indian Premier League, Bumrah has been India’s go-to bowler. Never conventional, Bumrah walks a bit, lengthens his stride, breaks into a gallop almost as an after-thought on sighting the bowling crease, leans backwards and then springs forward to deliver. This is like a high-strung catapult being used to good effect.

The strain on the shoulders, spine, knees and ankles are bound to be enormous. This is an action that can force the release of a biomechanical cautionary note. Yet, it works for Bumrah. Thankfully, just like how Sri Lanka nurtured the unorthodox Lasith Malinga, India did the same with the man from Gujarat. In the risk weighed against rewards index, the gifts that Bumrah offers need to be cherished.

With 205 Test wickets at a mind-boggling average of 19.40, the best for anyone with 200-plus scalps, Bumrah is both a freak and a fiery exponent of lathering speed onto a red cherry. Since Mohammad Nissar and Amar Singh, India has had some good fast bowlers but they were often lost among wristy batters and twirly spinners.

Kapil Dev, Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Bumrah and Mohammed Shami have all added to the mystique around Indian pacers. However, for any spearhead to survive, he needs a support-cast. Kapil had a few but they were sporadic. It was the same with Srinath.

The rare instances when Indians hunted as a pack include Srinath, Zaheer and Ashish Nehra bowling in tandem during the 2003 ODI World Cup in South Africa. A trend further amplified by Bumrah, Shami and Ishant during a phase in 2018-19 when they combined for 139 Test wickets.

Otherwise, it has been a case of revolving doors. Shami has been plagued with injuries. Siraj is evolving into an ally but it is taking time. Bumrah is 31 and he is vulnerable to a body that resists exploitation. India needs to have a plan to lengthen his career.

A sight for sore eyes: Given Mohamed Shami’s injury struggles, Bumrah has not always had the support he needs. | Photo credit: Getty Images

Though the last word is yet to be known on when Bumrah will be available for selection, ideally, he should be rested from bilateral ODIs and T20Is unless they lead up to a World Cup. In Tests at home where spin tends to have the upper hand, based on the nature of India’s lead in the series, the selectors can rest Bumrah at times.

A fit Bumrah is essential. But more important is a fast and hostile Bumrah. The last thing India needs is the injured pacer peddling military-medium stuff. Two decades ago, Rahul Dravid spoke about Aussie speedsters: “You play and play, say 20 balls, 30 balls, but you never feel ‘in’ and then you get this ball on and around off-stump and you edge.”

Changing the culture

Bumrah’s technique is similar. It is a relentless inquisition and if he is in the mood, a deceptive bouncer is banged in too. In a land that worshipped its batters, Bumrah has shredded that script. He has tapped into a collective primal desire to shatter stumps. Many kids are aspiring to be him.

During India’s latest tour, the Australian media praised Virat Kohli in their previews. He was this star expected to fill stadiums and lure eyeballs to television. When the series ended, Bumrah was the rockstar, towering over the rest. Australia may have won but it was the Indian pacer who reigned individually.

Ian Bishop is seen as this lovely commentator with the right words, astute knowledge and empathy. But in his prime, the West Indian was a terrific fast bowler before a fragile back laid him low and forced him to seek the comfort of a microphone. This is a cautionary tale and India cannot afford Bumrah to go the Bishop way.