Why there is no one like 'Jassi' in world cricket

Jasprit Bumrah, the first bowler in history to take 200 Test wickets at a sub-20 average, is as good as the legendary fast bowlers of the 1980s and 1990s, says Dilip Vengsarkar

- Piturai Borkakoty

In 'Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin' (There is no one like Jassi), the Indian soap opera which drew inspiration from the famous Colombian TV series 'Yo soy Betty, la fea' (I am Betty, the ugly one), the main protagonist is a bespectacled young woman with an unconventional fashion sense who goes on to achieve some beautiful things in life and make people fall in love with her refreshing simplicity.

Recently Indian media has drawn a parallel between 'Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin' and Jasprit Bumrah, the fast bowler who is almost singlehandedly keeping his country's hopes alive in an engrossing five-Test series against Australia.

Armed with a unique sling-arm action and a short run-up, Bumrah defies conventional norms of cricket and bamboozles the batters with his pace, variations and relentless accuracy.

Bumrah hasn't found success overnight he has been a menace for batters for many years, but he hit a purple patch in 2024.

Having dragged India from the jaws of defeat against South Africa in the nail-biting final of the T20 World Cup last year, Bumrah finished the tournament with 15 wickets at an astonishing average of 8.96.

In Australia, he has picked 30 wickets in four Tests at 12.83, comfortably overshadowing the Australian pace attack featuring Pat Cummins (20 wickets at 22.65) and Mitchell Starc (15 wickets at 28.73), while becoming the first bowler in history to take 200 Test wickets at a sub-20 average (19.42).

The 31-year-old has achieved all this with a smile on his face, not quite the toothy grin of Jassi, but an uplifting one, even after a fielder drops a catch off his bowling.

And he is doing all these incredible things without resorting to sledging.