Jasprit Bumrah is not just India’s strike bowler but also one of the most feared pacers in world cricket. Known for his lethal yorkers, calm temperament and ability to deliver in crunch moments, he has carried India’s bowling attack through many high-pressure games. But with that reputation comes scrutiny and recently, Bumrah found himself defending his approach after former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif’s comments sparked debate.
The conversation began during the Asia Cup, where Mohammad Kaif observed a shift in the way Jasprit Bumrah was being used. Instead of spreading his overs across the powerplay, middle, and death as he often did under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, Bumrah bowled three consecutive overs with the new ball. This prompted Kaif to suggest that India, under Suryakumar Yadav and strategist Gautam Gambhir, might be deliberately shielding Bumrah from the death overs to prevent injuries.
Mohammad Kaif went further, posting on X, “Bumrah under Rohit would generally bowl overs 1, 13, 17, 19. Under Surya, in Asia Cup, he bowled a three-over spell at the start. To avoid injury, Bumrah these days prefers to bowl while his body is warmed up. 1 over of Bumrah in the remaining 14 overs is a huge relief for batters. Against stronger teams at World Cup, this could hurt India.”
Jasprit Bumrah, never one to engage unnecessarily, responded sharply to the suggestion. His reply on X was short but clear, “Inaccurate before inaccurate again”.
https://x.com/Jaspritbumrah93/status/1971208332682854828
On the field, though, Bumrah has shown no signs of being “protected”. In the Super 4 clash against Bangladesh, he used the new ball effectively, unsettling the top order. Instead of leaning on Bumrah in the closing stages, India turned to Shivam Dube and Kuldeep Yadav, and the move has largely worked so far.
Behind the scenes, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has indeed been careful with Jasprit Bumrah’s workload. His back injury during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024–25 kept him out of two Tests against England and he only returned to T20Is after nearly a year away. Even his participation in the Asia Cup came with concern, given his history of injuries.
Still, Jasprit Bumrah’s fierce rebuttal makes it clear that he does not want his fitness or bowling strategy questioned without facts. For fans, his performance with the ball remains the best answer to any doubts.
