Mumbai Indians Bowling Coach Paras Mhambrey Extols Jasprit Bumrah's Exceptional Work Ethic and Personal Development
In a detailed press conference held before the Mumbai Indians' upcoming IPL 2026 clash against the Rajasthan Royals, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey showered praise on star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, highlighting his remarkable work ethic and significant growth both as a bowler and as an individual over the years.
From Young Talent to World-Class Bowler: Bumrah's Journey
Mhambrey reflected on Bumrah's transformation from a promising young player to a globally recognized name in cricket. "One value that every individual and bowler should pick up from Boom (Bumrah) is clearly his work ethic," Mhambrey stated, as cited by news agency ANI. "The way he goes about it in the nets, tick marking everything that he has worked on and will be using during the game. But, in the last few years with the Indian team...he has grown into a phenomenal bowler and even more so as an individual, which has been amazing."
Bowling Strategy and Pitch Analysis
Discussing the team's bowling approach in the initial matches of the season, Mhambrey emphasized the core focus on taking wickets and executing pre-defined plans. "As a bowling group...we always discuss how to get wickets in the middle, execute our plans, maintain the pressure on oppositions and how to exploit individual strengths and weaknesses," he explained.
He also provided insights into how varying pitch conditions across venues influence bowling tactics. "Both surfaces have been different, and just to give you all an idea, when we play in Mumbai, we have red soil pitches. Red soil characteristics are different. You have bounce due to the grass on it, and shots can be played easily. Square cuts and pull shots can be played very well on those surfaces. When we go and play on black soil surfaces in Delhi, one does not get that bounce and must access different areas."
Nurturing Young Talent and Collaborative Coaching
Mhambrey spoke about mentoring emerging players like Ashwani Kumar and Mohammad Izhar, detailing the team's methodical approach to developing bowling strategies each season. "Firstly credit should go to the scouts who go around and watch games and see these young guns' skill sets," he acknowledged. "For me, I put myself in their shoes and ask myself what I was thinking when I was at this stage in my career. When I was new to the game, finding my foothold here...how do I handle pressure and failures during certain stages. That gives me a better perspective on what could be a conversation starter with them. Also, spending a lot of time with individuals helps understand what kind of character he is and what kind of conversations he is seeking."
Addressing the dynamics of working alongside fellow bowling coach Lasith Malinga, Mhambrey clarified that their roles are seamlessly integrated towards a common objective. "There is no line of difference. Both of us know what our final objective is. It is like having two sides to a coin. We have trust, understanding and respect amongst ourselves. There is no competition; both of us are working towards the end goal for our team," he affirmed.
