"It's always, 'No, he's a nightmare!"- Ricky Ponting hails 'best multi-format bowler' Jasprit Bumrah 

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting hailed Jasprit Bumrah as the world's best all-format bowler over the past five to six years. Bumrah recently helped India win their first ICC title in over a decade at the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA.

The 30-year-old was the Player of the Tournament, picking up 15 wickets at an average of 8.26 and an economy of 4.17 in eight outings. Bumrah also starred in the grand finale against South Africa with incredible figures of 2/18 in 4 overs, including two clutch death overs.

Speaking on the ICC review, Ponting revealed that batters refer to Bumrah as a "nightmare".

"I've said it for a long time, he's probably been the best multi-format bowler there's been in world cricket for the last five or six years. The greatest way to always get a real gauge on these players is by asking (other) players. And when you talk to opposition batsmen about him (Bumrah), it's always, 'No, he's a nightmare!" said Ponting.

He added:

"You never know what's going to happen. One's going to swing, one's going to seam, he's going to bowl an in-swinger, he's going to bowl an out-swinger. And the consistency is there. So when you've got that skillset and the consistency that he has, then you're going to be a great player."

Bumrah boasts impressive numbers across formats with 397 wickets from 195 matches at an average of 21.10 including 12 five-wicket hauls.

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"I think he's actually come back better" - Ricky Ponting

South Africa v India: Final - ICC Men's T20 Cricket World Cup West Indies & USA 2024 - Source: Getty

Ricky Ponting felt Jasprit Bumrah dismissed fears of rediscovering his old self after a long injury layoff in parts of 2022 and 2023 by coming back an even better bowler.

The champion pacer was also at his sparkling best in the 2023 ODI World Cup with 20 wickets at an average of under 19 in 11 games. Bumrah's exploits helped India go on an unbeaten run to the final, where they lost to Australia.

"There might have been some fears a couple of years ago when the injuries came in and ‘would he come back the same?’, but I think he's actually come back better. If I watch what he did in the T20 World Cup – the pace is still there, there's nothing that's changed with the accuracy or what he can deliver. The skillset is all the same. He's getting better year on year. So, he would rank right up there," said Ponting.

Bumrah was rested for India's last two assignments - the five T20Is in Zimbabwe and the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka - as part of workload management.

It has been reported that the ace pacer could also miss the upcoming home Test series against Bangladesh, starting September 19.