Jasprit Bumrah

"Not too long ago, he was the world’s best fast bowler across formats, possessing an arsenal that suited each version of the game. He had the patience and skill to seam the ball around in Tests, could conjure bewildering slower ones and yorkers in white-ball, and above all, possessed a cricketing brain that knew what to do in any given situation. A parabolic wonder of a slower ball can stun a batsman in Tests, a rip-snorting bouncer can surprise in T20s; he intimately seems to know the comfort zone of batsmen and hence understands how to drag them away. However, with the injuries worsened by a callously-greedy management that tried to push him too soon into action, he is almost an unknown commodity now. Dark cloud hangs over him: can he wilfully produce those special deliveries under pressure in a world cup? That's a million dollar question. Considering Indian pitches, where not many of his pace colleagues really prosper, he can ease his captain’s worries if he can turn it on. Else, the team will fret about powerplay bowling, the pace balance in the middle overs, and the control in the death overs.

One-day memory: (6 for 19 against England at Oval, 2022)

Jos Buttler would not forget his first ODI as captain as Jasprit Bumrah landed soul-crushing blows to roll over England for 110. Pairing superbly with Mohammad Shami, Bumrah never took the foot of the pedal. Combining seam movement, vicious bounce, and pace, he rattled Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, Jason Roy. Four of his victims heard the death-rattle behind them, two were snapped up by the wicketkeeper as Bumrah wreaked havoc in London.

One more thing: His searing yorkers were the result of his mother’s afternoon naps. Afraid he would disturb her sleep and invite her wrath if he bounces the ball on the floor, he would aim for the floor-skirting, where the floor meets the wall, that would create the least noise."