Goal is to pick wickets and win games for India just like Bumrah: Yash Thakur
New Delhi, July 25
India fast bowler Yash Thakur has revealed that mastering death bowling has been the defining objective of his career, while describing premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah as the benchmark he hopes to emulate across all formats of the game.
Thakur said he made a conscious decision early in his senior career with Vidarbha to specialise in bowling at the death, believing those overs often determine the outcome of matches.
"Ever since I started playing senior white-ball cricket for Vidarbha, I set one clear goal for myself: to become a specialist at death bowling. Matches are won and lost in the final overs, and that's where I wanted to make a difference for my team," Thakur told JioStar.
The right-arm seamer said that philosophy has remained unchanged through his progression from domestic cricket to India A and now the senior national team.
"I have carried that mindset with me throughout my career. Whether I am playing for Vidarbha, India A, or in the IPL, I see death bowling as the toughest challenge in cricket, and I want to master it. If I can perform in high-pressure situations, that is when I can truly make an impact," he added.
Thakur credited Bumrah as the biggest influence on his approach, praising the India pace spearhead's ability to excel regardless of the format or phase of the innings.
"I admire Jasprit Bumrah a lot because he bowls brilliantly in every format and in every phase of the game. He understands the situation and adapts accordingly."
Explaining the standard he has set for himself, Thakur added, "I try to follow his approach, to be a bowler the captain can trust at any stage, whether it's the powerplay, the middle overs, or the death. My goal is to be someone who can pick up wickets and win games, just like Bumrah does for India."
— IANS
Reader Comments
I remember Yash Thakur's performance in IPL this season - he can be expensive but he takes wickets under pressure. Bumrah is a tough act to follow but at least he has the right mindset. India needs more specialist death bowlers!
This is exactly what Indian cricket needs - bowlers who specialize in specific phases instead of being jack of all trades. Yash Thakur should work on his consistency though. Can't compare with Bumrah yet but ambition is good!
Yaar death bowling is literally the toughest job in white ball cricket. Bumrah makes it look easy but others struggle. I hope Yash Thakur gets more chances to prove himself. The more quality pacers India has, the better for our team! 🇮🇳
Good to see young players having such clarity about their role. But talk is cheap, execution matters more. Let's see if Yash Thakur can really become a reliable death bowler like Bumrah. Hope he works on his yorkers!
Interesting perspective from Yash Thakur. Bumrah is a special talent but it's good to see Indian bowlers being more strategic about their development. Death bowling is an art and I respect anyone who wants to master it.
M We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.