India’s star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has advised Jasprit Bumrah to lengthen his run up while revealing his admiration for the Indian cricket team pacer.

Bumrah made a triumphant return to international cricket after an 11-month hiatus due to a back injury.

Bumrah delivered stellar performances during the World Cup 2023 campaign that were crucial to India’s success in the tournament. He picked up 20 wickets across 11 matches, bowled the highest number of dot balls, and his ability to set up wickets for other bowlers was instrumental in India’s strategy.

His best figures came against Afghanistan, where he took four wickets for 39 runs in 10 overs, showcasing his dominance and helping India secure a strong position in the competition. Despite facing skepticism about his career during his injury, Bumrah’s World Cup exploits silenced critics and reaffirmed his status as a world-class bowler.

The Indian pacer is now all set to return to the Test arena after being named in the squad for the upcoming series against South Africa.

Speaking to Indian Express, Neeraj said that he likes Bumrah a lot and finds his action unique. The javelin star then went on to advice the pacer to increase his run-up to add more pace to his arsenal.

“I like Jasprit Bumrah, I find his action unique. I feel he should lengthen his run-up to add more pace. As a javelin thrower, we often discuss how bowlers can increase their pace if they start their run-up from a little further back. I like Bumrah’s style,” said Neeraj.

Neeraj was present for the final of the World Cup 2023, where India would eventually lose to Australia. The javelin star said that Aussies may have had a mental edge at the start, which helped them win the summit clash.

“Maybe, somewhere mentally, the Australian team held an edge at the start. When they bowled, I found they had a strong mindset. In the end, they had completely flipped it over. They were confident about their game,” Neeraj added.