‘Overhyped’: Stop talking about Amir already, says Rohit Sharma

Published March 9, 2016
Amir took seven wickets in his four Asia cup matches. — AFP/File
Amir took seven wickets in his four Asia cup matches. — AFP/File

Mohammad Amir to Rohit Sharma. The left-arm fast bowler runs in from over the wicket, jumps on the crease, pitches one that swings back in sharply and leaves the batsman befuddled.

Luckily, the umpire is the saviour for Sharma. But for not too long.

Next delivery, Amir goes back to his mark, runs in with a smooth action, and pitches it a bit short from the length of the previous delivery and traps Sharma leg before.

The brief encounter between Rohit and Amir during the India-Pakistan Asia Cup T20 match in Dhaka on February 27, left many in awe.

It also enhanced Amir's reputation as the ‘special talent’ who was back doing what he did best.

According to Rohit though, Amir is just a ‘normal’ bowler who was unjustifiably hyped.

“Stop talking about him already,” ESPNCricinfo quoted Rohit as saying of Amir in Kolkata.

“He isn’t the only bowler, Pakistan have five other bowlers who are doing well for them,” added the right -handed batsman.

Sharma believed that Amir needed to be more consistent to be considered an ‘extraordinary’ paceman but for now he was good in patches.

“He is good but he needs to prove it over and over again,” said Sharma.

“Now people are comparing him to Wasim Akram and all that.

“He is just a normal bowler, on that given day if he is good, he is good. It is not as if he turns up and blows everyone away,” added the opener.

However, after the India-Pakistan Asia Cup fixture, Virat Kohli, the Indian skipper, had contrasting views about the left-arm pacer.

“I would like to compliment Mohammad Amir for the way he bowled. I actually congratulated him while he was bowling,” he said.

“It was so happy to play such an amazing spell. He is a world-class bowler.”

During that spell, Amir sent Rohit, Ajinkya Rahane and Suresh Raina back to the pavilion cheaply, to finish with figures of 3 for 18 in four overs.

In Pakistan’s Asia cup failure, Amir was one of the rare positives, taking seven wickets in four matches in the tournament at an economy rate of 5.06 an over.

‘Better talk about Bumrah’

“Bumrah is already starting to make a mark. I would tell you that instead of talking about Amir you should talk about Bumrah,” said Sharma about his compatriot fast-bowler Jasprit Bumrah.

Bumrah took six wickets in five games for India in the Asia Cup, at an economy of 5.22. Rohit said Bumrah had a bright future ahead.

“A rare talent like Bumrah … he is young and the way he has begun his career - he has a long way ahead no doubt - I think he will do something special for the country,” added Sharma.

“He is an exception. He will come up with a surprise.”

Sharma believed that Bumrah had a surprise factor with every ball he delivered — such that even the captain found it difficult to guess.

“Like I was standing in the slip the other night in the finals and I couldn’t make out what he is going to do,” he said

“Even the captain doesn’t know.

“He has got a good yorker; he has got a good bouncer, a good slower one. He has got all what a modern day bowler needs,” added Sharma.

The India opener compared Bumrah’s action to that of Sri Lanka’s slingy pacer Lasith Malinga.

India are scheduled to play their World T20 group game against Pakistan in Dharamsala on March 19, a fixture that has been fraught with security issues.

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