Mumbai: Jasprit Bumrah has said that former New Zealand speedster Shane Bond has played a major role in shaping up his career. Bond is currently the bowling coach of IPL franchises Mumbai Indians. It should be stated here that Jaspreet Bumrah also plays for Mumbai Indians. He will lead India’s attack in the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand.
The fast bowler expressed his views in a video shared by his IPL franchise. “I always try to talk to him (Bond) even when I am not here and with the Indian team. So, it’s been a good journey, and hopefully, every year I keep learning something new. Try to add new things to my bowling. Bond has played a major role in that. It’s been a great relationship so far. Hopefully, this continues for many years to come,” Bumrah said.
Bumrah said he was always fascinated by how Bond bowled in his playing days. He tries speaking to the MI bowling coach even when he is on India duty. It is doubtful however, whether Bond will provide tips to Bumrah when India play New Zealand.
See video: https://twitter.com/i/status/1393061005584969735
“I met him (Bond) for the first time in 2015. As a child, I had seen him bowl. I was always very fascinated by how he used to bowl for New Zealand, and how he used to operate,” the India pacer said.
Bumrah has so far played 19 Tests. He said that Bond assisted him a lot in broadening his horizon. This in turn helped him blossom as a cricketer.
“When I met him (Bond) over here (Mumbai), it was a good experience. He helped me a lot to open my mind to different things that I could try on the cricket field. So that was very good and that relationship has only gotten better each and every year,” Bumrah said.
Bond, on his part, termed Bumrah as the best death bowler in the world.
Seasoned New Zealand left-arm pacer Trent Boult also had words of praise for his compatriot. He said Bond was a ‘tremendous thinker of the game and a pretty good tactician’.
“He (Bond) has been here for a long time. He knows what he is doing. He puts in a lot of work into making sure that the bowlers are well equipped and have got enough information to make some decisions on the day. Yeah, really enjoy working with him,” said Boult, who has played 71 Tests.