Jasprit Bumrah’s remarkable performance in the World Cup against Afghanistan highlighted his unstoppable form since returning from injury. He recorded his best-ever World Cup bowling figures, finishing with 4/39, surpassing his previous best of 4/55 in the 2019 edition. Bumrah played a crucial role in restricting Afghanistan to 272/8, despite their earlier momentum towards a 300-run total. His impact was felt throughout the match, excelling with both the new ball and the old.
In the initial overs, Bumrah conceded just five runs and made a strong comeback after being hit for a boundary, dismissing Ibrahim Zadran with a beautiful outswinger. Even in his second spell, he remained impressively economical, although he didn’t manage to secure any wickets. However, it was his final spell that wreaked havoc on the Afghan batting lineup, as he removed three powerful hitters, including Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, and Rashid Khan, triggering a mini collapse for Afghanistan.
Former India opener Gautam Gambhir was effusive in his praise for Bumrah, describing him as a ‘phenomenal’ bowler. Gambhir emphasized Bumrah’s unique quality, which sets him apart and makes him an indispensable asset for any team he represents, whether it’s India, the Mumbai Indians, or any other franchise. Regardless of the team, Bumrah consistently delivers exceptional performances.
“He is just a phenomenal performer. He is just a phenomenal and world-class bowler. I have always said this and will maintain that whichever team Jasprit Bumrah plays for, he has got to be your X-factor, whether it’s in Chennai, or Delhi, whether he bowls with the new ball or old, I haven’t seen a lot of cricketers in this World Cup who can bowl at any stage of the game and have the same impact. Some bowl well with the new ball, some ball well in the death, but Bumrah is one who can bowl brilliantly everywhere,” Gambhir stated during the mid-innings interval.
While Bumrah’s World Cup figures may not yet rank among the best for Indian bowlers, his performance against Afghanistan signaled even greater things to come. His ability to take crucial wickets under pressure and his overall impact on the game make him a key figure in contemporary cricket, and he is poised for an even more promising future.
“It’s not many times that a captain goes to a fast bowler for a breakthrough. He either turns to a finger or wrist spinner, so that just shows the quality of this bowler. He got India back on track because at one stage, it was looking as if Afghanistan might just get to 300 and that would have been a challenging total. And the reason it didn’t happen because Bumrah got Nabi out. He was looking dangerous. Like I said, he is just a very complete bowler,” attached Gambhir.
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