Mumbai: Former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Virat Kohli had rejected Parthiv Patel's suggestion to include pacer Jasprit Bumrah in the team in 2014. Once an important part of the RCB set-up, Patel had suggested Kohli to include Bumrah in the team, but the former captain did not seem interested.
"In 2014, when I was at RCB, I told Kohli there's this bowler named Bumrah. Have a look at him. Virat replied saying 'Chhod na yaar. Ye Bumrah-Vumrah kya karenge?' (Leave it. What will such players do?)" Patel said on Cricbuzz.
Bumrah is the first Asian bowler to take five wickets in a Test innings in South Africa, England and Australia during the same calendar year. The 28-year-old has won five IPL trophies with Mumbai Indians.
"When he was first picked, Bumrah played Ranji Trophy for the first two-three years. 2013 was his first year, and he didn't have a good season in 2014. In 2015, it was so bad that there were discussions going on that he might have to be sent back home mid-season. But, he slowly began improving and Mumbai Indians really backed him. It was his own hard work and such backing that really brought out the best in him," Patel said.
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