A No-ball has almost become the middle name of India pacer Jasprit Bumrah. The India quick bowled one of the most expensive no-balls in history as his wicket dismissal of Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman in the Champions Trophy final got negated. The left-handed batsman smashed a century and Pakistan triumphed by 180 runs.
Bumrah bowls off 10-odd paces, making it one of the shortest ever run-ups for a genuine fast bowler. However, the pain of that no-ball didn’t make the necessary impact as Bumrah has continued to overstep the mark.
He got the wickets of Sri Lanka batsman Upul Tharanga (Dharamsala ODI, 2017), Adil Rashid (Trent Bridge Test, 2018) and Joe Root (Southampton Test, 2018) from no-balls after his Zaman shocker. It meant something so basic yet critical had not been rectified by the support staff, especially by bowling coach Bharat Arun.
But in the ongoing Asia Cup, Bumrah has put his best foot forward. And more importantly, not too forward.
The right arm quick has played two ODIs so far in Dubai and what has stood out in both matches, apart from his frugal bowling, is his front foot. Against Pakistan (2-23) and Bangladesh (3-37), not only did Bumrah not bowl a no-ball, his toe sometimes barely touched the crease on occasions whereas earlier his heel would threaten to go over the line.
Releasing the ball from half a foot behind is not ideal but Bumrah is quick enough to not let it affect his bowling. More importantly, he is ensuring he gets the wickets he earns.
Whether Bumrah has truly eliminated no-balls from his game remains to be seen when the pressure is really on in bigger matches. But as of now he deserves credit for staying disciplined when spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravindra Jadeja have both bowled no-balls in the Asia Cup.
