Jasprit Bumrah is the pick of the bowlers in Virat Kohli’s armoury and the Indian skipper has time and again reiterated his importance to the Indian team.
When he’s not taking wickets at the start of the innings, he’s bowling the tightest of overs at the death and if on the rare occasion he doesn't get a wicket, he’s busy ensuring enough pressure is maintained from the other end of the pitch so his partner can make a breakthrough.
In the match against Sri Lanka, Bumrah was all these things and more as he didnt concede a single run till the 5th over and by the time he got through his first 3 overs, India had their first wicket.
Sri Lanka captain and opener Dimuth Karunaratne top-edged to MS Dhoni on 10 in the fourth over to become India’s first wicket of the match and also Bumrah’s 100th ODI scalp.
This was Bumrah’s 57th ODI outing and it makes him the second-fastest Indian bowler to the landmark. Mohammad Shami got to the mark in 56 innings.
Bumrah's 15th wicket of this World Cup reduced Sri Lanka to 17/1.
Bumrah's ODI wickets have come at an average of 22, the best rate of anyone to take more than 20 wickets for India.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)