Ricky Ponting praised Jasprit Bumrah, compared him to Glenn McGrath and James Anderson

Former Australia captain Rickey Ponting believes that India pacer Jasprit Bumrah is the best multi-format bowler in world cricket, particularly in recent times. The 30-year-old has come off as a better player in 2022 despite his injuries. In India's successful ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 campaign earlier this year, Bumrah was the Player of the Tournament, the third-highest wicket-taker with 15 wickets, and the most economical bowler in the team. He has been equally effective in ODIs and Tests, coming eighth in the 50-over format, and second with Josh Hazlewood with the red ball.

Bumrah struggled with a back injury in 2022 - it ruled him out of the Asia Cup and the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. "I've said it for a long time, he's probably been the best multi-format bowler in world cricket for the last five or six years," Ponting said on the ICC Review Show. After being out for 11 months, Bumrah was in India's squad for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup last year, where his stellar performance earned him the official ICC Team of the Tournament.

Ponting believes Bumrah has bounced back better than ever despite injuries. "There might have been some apprehension a couple of years ago when the injuries happened and 'will he come back the same way?', but I think he's actually come back better. If I look at what he did in the T20 World Cup - the pace is still there, there's no change in accuracy or what he can deliver. The skill set is all the same. He's getting better year on year. So, he'll rank right up there," he said.