Over the years, the change in conditions of international cricket has seen fast bowlers lose their importance in the shortest format of the game.
However, recently, bowlers like Mitchell Starc have shown that the art of fast bowling is still good if mastered and there are a number of players who are now showcasing their talent.
Coming into the IPL, Bangladesh’s new find Mustafizur Rahman has defied all odds and has enjoyed a sizzling debut IPL season so far.
He has taken over the role of a strike bowler for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the current season alongside stars like Buwaneshwar Kumar and Ashish Nehra but one such teammate has come out to talk in public about the Bangladesh genius.
New Zealand bowling sensation Trent Boult is also a part of the Sunrisers outfit and is yet to play a game for the side thanks to the exploits of Rahman in the 6 games so far which included a spell of 9/2 in 4 overs.
However, in a recent interview with newspaper outlet Deccan Chronicle, Boult spiced things up in the Hyderabad camp as he said that he was as good as Mustafizur in the shortest format.
Boult who moved to SRH for 8 Lakhs a couple of years ago has not played international T20 cricket since the start of the year and has not been able to impress enough to take the young Rahman’s place in the side.
He spoke about his place in the side and felt that he and Rahman had a different role in the side.
He revealed that the strengths of the both the bowlers are at different areas and accepted that the Bangladesh prodigy is currently leading the bowling attack of the Hyderabad franchise.
Boult said, “We both are entirely different bowlers. I like to think of myself as a more lethal, swing bowler who can take wickets up front whereas he is very skilful with his change of paces.”
“His yorkers are superb as well. But each offers something in a way they can.”
The Sunrisers not only have Kumar and Nehra in their ranks, they have also purchased Ben Cutting, Abhimanyu Mithun and Braindar Sran for the current season and will be hoping to find the right combination before the league enters its business end.
Boult felt that the competition in the bowling department at the SRH is pretty high and acknowledged the fact that he needed to prove himself to get a chance in the IPL this season.
“There’s some great quality in the entire squad.”
“Mustafiz has been leading the attack very nicely, well-backed by Bhuvi, who is a neat wicket-taker and Nehra as well. It’s healthy competition,” Boult added.
SRH will host the Royal Challengers Bangalore in their next game on Saturday the 30th of April.