The joys of Jasprit

India has had many reliable cricketers, but rarely someone so… Reliably lethal.

There are so many things to love about the man. The Magnus Effect caused by his whipping arm that makes his deliveries sing through the air,¹² swinging either side of the batter. His ability to bowl nearly 43%³⁴ of his deliveries on a good line and length while targeting the stumps more frequently than any other bowler at his pace. The proficiency at all stages of the game. His format agnosticism. The brain behind it all.

But really, it’s his undeniable dependability that gets me.

Bumrah’s transcendent 2024 season, where he finished as the world’s leading Test wicket-taker with 71 wickets in just 13 matches at 30.1,⁵⁶⁷ was nevertheless crowned by the sheer inevitability of his match-turning six runs in two overs against South Africa in the T20 World Cup Final, when all South Africa needed were 30 runs from 30 balls.⁸⁹

In 2024, he was the best bowler in all formats at the same time.¹⁰ In 2025, he’s working to return from the injuries that caused him. And yet. Even at 90–95 (93?)% of peak velocity, Bumrah’s toolkit remains anti-fragile. Seam, angle, release deception, and decision-late variation age well.

There are great fast bowlers whose brilliance feels like lightning. Bumrah feels like sunrise. The thrill is not surprise but assurance. A captain turns to him and the fan breathes differently. He does not hunt for miracles: he manufactures them, over by over, on any surface, in any light. And like the Sun, he’ll rise again soon.

Sources

1. The magician’s wrist: how Bumrah does what he does
2. IIT Kanpur professor decodes the science behind Indian bowler Jasprit Bumrah’s success
3. Who are The Most Accurate Pace Bowlers in Test Cricket?
4. Jasprit Bumrah uses money in the bank for Lord’s honours
5. India bowling icon named ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year
6. Jasprit Bumrah’s Historic Year in 2024: A Statistical Masterpiece
7. Bumrah’s phenomenal 2024: Redefining fast bowling excellence
8. A genius of his craft: Reflecting on Jasprit Bumrah’s T20 World Cup 2024
9. Bumrah and Hardik script stunning comeback to lead India to T20 World Cup glory
10. Jasprit Bumrah Profile – Cricket Player India