IPL 2019 | Jasprit Bumrah’s wrist manages to get more pace off the deck, asserts AB de Villers

De Villers and Bumrah came face to face in Royal Challenger Bangalore’s last home encounter against Mumbai Indians, and defending 22 runs, Bumrah bowled a magical five-run over to keep 17 runs for Lasith Malinga to defend in the final over. Although the no-ball controversy was the main highlight of the day, putting Bumrah’s performance under shade, De Villers didn’t shy away from praising the Indian pace spearhead.

“Look at the ICC rankings for ODI bowlers, and you will see that Bumrah is currently No. 1. The stats don’t lie. He (Bumrah) got the better of me in the closing overs of an exhilarating IPL clash. All credit to him because he bowled incredibly well. I look forward to the next time. It was strange at the end, I didn’t know what to do,” the South African wrote in his column for the Times of India.

“He has special skills. It may be something to do with his wrists, but he is slippery, managing to get more pace off the deck than any bowler I’ve ever faced at the Chinnaswamy. He’s also brave. Under pressure, when many panic, he sticks to his plans, backs his ability and, very often, executes perfectly.” 

De Villiers will have a crack at redemption when two times will meet again on April 15 in Mumbai.