'Bumrah's 140 Kmph Feels Like 150 Kmph': Kapil Dev Highlights Bowling Phenomenon

Jasprit Bumrah, considered India's top all-format cricketer, has already earned legendary status at 30. His exceptional performance in the T20 World Cup 2024 final was pivotal when South Africa needed just 30 runs off 30 balls to win against India.

During the Team India felicitation ceremony at Wankhede Stadium after their T20 World Cup 2024 victory, Virat Kohli highlighted Bumrah's contributions. The star batter called him a "generational" bowler for his remarkable efforts across different formats.

Bumrah finished the ICC tournament as the joint second-highest wicket-taker. He took 15 wickets with an impressive average of 8.26 and an economy rate of 4.17, the best among bowlers with over ten wickets and five matches played.

Former India legend Kapil Dev also praised Bumrah during a conversation with CricBlogger. The 1983 World Cup-winning captain noted that even if Bumrah bowls at 140 kmph, it feels like facing deliveries at 150 kmph due to his late release.

"Bumrah might be bowling at 140 km/hr but when the batter is actually facing him, it is nearly 150 km/hr. This is possible because he releases the ball late and the batters get little less time to adjust when the ball is released so late. Eventually, it becomes 150 km/hr because the reaction of the batters will have to be that quick to negotiate someone like him," Kapil Dev told CricBlogger during a tete-tete in his office in New Delhi.

Bumrah's Unique Bowling Technique

Kapil Dev explained that Bumrah's late release adds an extra 10 kmph, reducing reaction time for batters. This mastery makes him an unplayable bowler. "Even I had a top-arm release but if you look at Bumrah, he releases the ball quite late and that makes it difficult for the batters to negotiate him," Kapil Dev added.

Bumrah is currently taking a break from cricket following India's T20 World Cup 2024 triumph. He was not included in India's squad for the upcoming ODI and T20I series in Sri Lanka.