Mumbai Indians bowling coach Shane Bond has been a great influence on him feels Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah. The two have been together at the Blue and Gold brigade since 2015, when Bumrah, who arrived at the franchise through a talent scouting by John Wright in 2013, was just two years old into the set-up.
“I met him for the first time in 2015,” said Bumrah in a video uploaded on MI’s official Twitter handle. “As a child, I had seen him bowl and was always fascinated by the way he used to bowl and operate for New Zealand,” added the 27-year-old.
Bumrah then went on to say that Bond has had a great influence on his bowling career. He further said that he talks to his IPL coach about his game, even when he is on India duty. “He helped me a lot to open my mind to different things that I could try on the field. That relationship grew from there and has gotten better by the day. Even when I am away with the Indian team, I keep in touch with him,” said Bumrah.
Other pacers which included three from Bond’s home country New Zealand (Trent Boult, Jimmy Neesham and Adam Milne) also felt that the 45-year-old has been a great addition to their respective careers. Milne, 29, who is considered as a prodigy of Bond and has played under his guidance at both Mumbai Indians and Sydney Thunder in BBL, says, “He‘s been huge for me in my career. Right from when I was a 17-year-old and had very limited knowledge of the game, he has given me little tips here and there without trying to control me.”
Bond on his part called Jasprit Bumrah the best death bowler in the world right now.