Bumrah defies red-ball perceptions with renewed belief

In January last year, Jasprit Bumrah played a key role in Gujarat reaching the final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the domestic one-day competition, which they won for the first time. Bumrah's yorkers, none more memorable than the one that took out MS Dhoni's middle stump, stood out. It earned him a maiden India call-up, for the Twenty20 leg of the Australia tour. Bumrah was not a part of the 50-over squad, but shoddy death bowling - India conceded 300-plus in three of the first four games - meant Bumrah was given a look-in less than 24 hours after he arrived in Sydney ahead of the fifth and final ODI.

Since then, he has been on the road non-stop. He has enhanced his reputation of being a yorker specialist, who can bowl them on demand, and can also make an impact with the new ball by hitting the deck hard, generating disconcerting bounce and working up angles with his unorthodox action.

Not much has been spoken of Bumrah's red-ball credentials. He admits to being surprised, and was determined to prove himself. After not being considered for a long home Test season, Bumrah has taken the opportunity to prove that he's no one-trick pony, and it has coincided with Gujarat qualifying for their first Ranji Trophy final in 66 years. Bumrah's contribution has been significant; he has picked up three five-wicket hauls in a tally of 24 wickets in seven matches.

The numbers aren't staggering, but by delivering in vital moments - he took a career-best 6 for 29 in the semi-final against Jharkhand in Nagpur - he has shown he is a big-match player. When his side takes on Mumbai in the final, Bumrah will be cheering from Pune - he's part of India's limited-overs squad for the England series - and will be with his boys "in spirit."

Gujarat sides of the past have frozen against Mumbai. This season, however, on what Bumrah termed a "flat deck" in Hubli, his five-wicket haul helped them eke out first-innings points and push for a knockouts berth despite one of their games being called off because of poor weather in Delhi. It's bowling on "wickets such as Hubli", where the bowlers have had to toil, that has reinforced Bumrah's belief that he can be equally effective with the red ball.

"It's a perception, I guess, that I'm just a limited-overs cricketer," Bumrah tells ESPNcricinfo. "For three seasons now, I've been playing in the Ranji Trophy and for India A. I have had decent success, so I don't think of myself as just a short-form bowler. That said, it's important to adapt to formats quickly. This time, playing seven matches across different surfaces has been a huge step in that direction. I've learned a lot about my bowling, in terms of being patient, consistent, and in general, being fit to bowl long spells.

"I've been doing all of these since I made my Ranji debut, but it's just that some situations toughen you, like in the semi-final against Jharkhand, when we conceded a lead on a surface where there was help for the bowlers, even if it wasn't a green top by any means. So doing well on different surfaces has given me the confidence that I can execute my plans well irrespective of surfaces."

In Nagpur, Bumrah toiled for 27 overs in the first innings for one wicket. The usual ploy of bowling short or using angles didn't work. In the second innings, he was fuller. He had the batsmen nicking, he had them caught in the crease, and built pressure. "This is one aspect I've worked on," Bumrah says. "Initially, when I started playing, I used to just run in and bowl. Over the last two years, I've realised the importance of assessing a surface quickly.

"Bounce on red soil is different from that on black soil. The same type of delivery won't be the same on different wickets. A length ball in Lahli or a green wicket will behave a lot differently than one in, say, Rajkot, or elsewhere. So that's one new dimension I have added to my bowling. And, in general, these are the kind of conversations I've had with bowling coaches, on how to adapt, how to get used to the conditions quickly. On some wickets, length ball will hit top of off. On some, you will be driven through the line.

"The beauty of domestic cricket is that it gives you time to absorb these lessons, which is why playing on the circuit for three years now has made me a better bowler. That's why I feel domestic grind is important for fast bowlers. In some ways, I've also been lucky to have had these habits told to me when I joined Mumbai Indians, before my Ranji debut. First-class cricket gave me the chance to work on these aspects over time."

One of the aspects Bumrah has particularly worked on is the delivery that leaves the right-handers. "If you're predictable, you have had it. The one that leaves the batsman took me a while to execute properly. It's not just about use of angles, really. You also need to have strong wrists, the flick of the ball and proper seam position. It's natural for some bowlers, others have to work hard. Now, I've developed the one that goes away too."

Bumrah has often elicited comparison to Lasith Malinga, with whom he has had plenty of interactions at Mumbai Indians. But he insists they haven't only been about yorkers. "That's again perception," he laughs. "When I first came in, I was so shy. He came up to me and broke the ice. He told me bowlers with unorthodox actions shouldn't doubt themselves. Watching him train gave me the confidence that I too can execute like he does."

It's this awareness of Bumrah the long-form bowler that Gujarat have tapped into on their way to the final. But in the summit clash, they will not have the experience and learning of a man, who at 23, has taken a giant leap after having first arrived as an unknown commodity, straight out of a talent hunt programme. "I'll miss being there; the side deserves a win. If and when we do that, I'll be celebrating, even if I may not be present physically."