The year 2016 has been a great year for India in international cricket. They had an undefeated run in Tests and reached the semi-finals of the ICC World T20. Jasprit Bumrah made his International debut for India in an ODI against Australia on 23rd January 2016. As most critics would say that Test cricket is the ultimate challenge, Bumrah has had an outstanding first year in international cricket in ODIs and T20Is. If he carries on in this vein, it is just a matter of time before he represents India in Tests as well.

Australia is not an easy place to make your debut, even though the wickets assist the pace bowlers. In early 2016, India toured Australia for a series of 5 ODIs and 3 T20Is. India had lost the first 4 ODIs and Bumrah made his debut in the 5th ODI. The first 4 ODIs were all high scoring ones and there would have been a lot of pressure on ‘Boom’ to deliver the goods. He bowled an outstanding spell of 10/0/40/2. Australia racked up a huge total of 330/7 off their 50 overs at a run rate of 6.6 per over. The fact that Bumrah only conceded an average of 4 runs per over in such a large total showed that he had the goods to succeed at the international level.

He took 6 wickets in the 3 T20Is that followed and what was impressive was his ability to maintain his cool in tough situations. He could deliver yorkers almost at will which is a huge asset in limited overs cricket. He also had other variations in his armoury like the slower balls and slower bouncers which would keep the batsmen guessing. He also bowls with deceptive pace and has a bowling action that is difficult to pick.

He bowled at a miserly economy rate in the bilateral T20I series against Sri Lanka and the Asia Cup that followed. In the 3 match bilateral T20I series against Sri Lanka, he took 6 wickets at an economy rate of just 4.6 runs per over. In the Asia Cup that followed he took 6 wickets in 5 matches at an economy rate of 5.22. ‘Boom’ manages to pick wickets and at the same time keeps the runs down. This is what makes him a special bowler.

His best bowling figures in T20Is were against Zimbabwe at Harare on 20th June 2016, when he took 3/11 off his 4 overs. He also set a world record for maximum wickets taken in a calendar year in T20Is by taking 28 wickets in 21 matches at an economy rate of just 6.62. The enormity of the achievement can be gauged from the fact that no bowler has taken more wickets in a calendar year in T20Is since the advent of T20Is in 2005.

The highlight of his ODI career was the tour to Zimbabwe. India fielded a 2nd string squad in Zimbabwe but Bumrah was absolutely outstanding on that tour. He played in all 3 matches and took 9 wickets at a bowling average of 8.55, an economy rate of 2.98 and a bowling strike rate of 17.2. He achieved his career best figures of 4/22 in an ODI at Harare on 15th June 2016.

Most players find their 2nd year in international cricket to be their toughest as other players and coaching staff from other teams are aware of their strengths and weaknesses and devise plans to counter them. However, on the evidence of his first year, Bumrah has shown that he is here to stay and that if he maintains his fitness, he will have a long and prolific career in international cricket.