Waqar Younis Told Aakash Chopra That Jasprit Bumrah Is the Best Bowler the World Has Ever Seen

Jasprit Bumrah is currently facing flak from a certain section of cricket fans for limited outing.

Waqar Younis Told Aakash Chopra That Jasprit Bumrah Is the Best Bowler the World Has Ever Seen

Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Jasprit Bumrah (Image via Sportstar- The Hindu, Al Jazeera)

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Jasprit Bumrah has been taking the cricket world by storm with his consistent performances in every format in the past few years. Batters have struggled to pick him, and hardly a few can boast of having a positive record against the bowler.

Jasprit Bumrah often is compared with other prominent fast bowlers of this generation like Mitch Starc, Pat Cummins or even Kagiso Rabada. At times when he comes up with performances unheard of, debates of him being the best ever float around.

Former India cricketer and current broadcaster Aakash Chopra on his YouTube channel shared a wonderful story of how Pakistani legend Waqar Younis praised Bumrah for his skills with the ball.

We were in a car. Waqar Younis was with me. I asked him, ‘The entire cricket world has respect for Wasim Akram for the variations in his bowling and the control he possessed. He was par excellence. Bumrah is like right-handed Wasim Akram, right?’ He replied, ‘No, he is better than all of us. We didn’t have this thinking level at his age. His skill is better, and his thinking is better. He is the best that the world has ever seen’

Aakash Chopra said via his YouTube channel

Chopra generally compared Bumrah with another Pakistani great and Younis’ partner in crime, Wasim Akram. However, the reply he got from Younis was one that has made many Indians proud of their gem that is Bumrah.

Younis was clear that Bumrah is better than all who bowled in the previous generations. He attributed Bumrah’s thinking skills and said players of the past weren’t as street smart as Bumrah is.

Wasim-Waqar formed one of the most lethal pairs that international cricket has ever seen. Younis, a yorker specialist himself, certainly is the right person to judge where Bumrah has reached, and the latter would be proud of the words of praise he has received.

A look at Jasprit Bumrah’s numbers in comparison to Wasim Akram

Pakistani great Wasim Akram has been hailed by many as one of the best left arm fast bowlers of all time. His accuracy and impeccable control on swing made him a lethal weapon for Pakistan cricket that dominated in his playing days.

India’s modern great Jasprit Bumrah has been tracking his neighboring legend and has already shown signs of surpassing him in the future. Akram through various media channels has often praised Bumrah’s smartness and usage of variations, something that he was a master of too.

Jasprit Bumrah and Wasim Akram in test cricket
Jasprit Bumrah and Wasim Akram (via GeoSuper)

Wasim Akram took a mammoth 414 wickets in Test cricket at an impeccable average of just 23.62 and a strike rate of 54.65. Jasprit Bumrah in his Test career, so far, has managed 219 scalps at an unmatched average of 19.82 and strike rate of 42.68. Bumrah leads Akram in both average and strike rate. However, it will be interesting to see if Bumrah can match Akram’s longevity.

In ODI cricket, Akram took an outstanding 502 wickets at a tremendous average of 23.53 and a strike rate of 36.23. Bumrah so far has 149 scalps at an average of just 23.55 and an amazing strike rate of 30.74.

With both Bumrah and Akram hailing from the same part of the world, comparisons are bound to happen. Both have bowled on tired home wickets in Asia and have still achieved remarkable numbers. With Bumrah leading Akram in both averages and strike rates, it is interesting to see if he can pip the Pakistani legend in longevity as well.

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