In a statement that is sure to spark debate among cricket fans, former South African captain Faf du Plessis has named India’s Jasprit Bumrah as the greatest fast bowler of all time.
In a video shared by a sports portal, Faf du Plessis was asked to choose a better fast bowler than Jasprit Bumrah from a star-studded list. The names included legends like Wasim Akram, Dale Steyn, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Malcolm Marshall, Curtly Ambrose, Kapil Dev, Allan Donald, James Anderson, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Waqar Younis, Courtney Walsh, Richard Hadlee, Dennis Lillee, Ian Botham and Lasith Malinga.
But Faf didn’t hesitate.
He said he would stick with Jasprit Bumrah. When asked if there was anyone he would pick over the Indian pacer, his answer was simple – NO.
Explaining his choice, Faf du Plessis pointed out that many of the all-time greats never played T20 cricket, which makes comparisons tricky. He mentioned that while bowlers like Wasim Akram were exceptional, especially with their yorkers and reverse swing, conditions were different in their era. According to him, reverse swing was more common back then, whereas modern-day bowlers operate in different circumstances. Considering Jasprit Bumrah’s effectiveness across formats, especially in T20 cricket, Faf du Plessis placed him at the top.
Jasprit Bumrah’s numbers certainly strengthen the argument. Since making his international debut against Australia in an ODI in Sydney on January 23, 2016, he has taken 497 wickets in 233 matches across formats. He has claimed 234 wickets in 52 Tests, 149 in 89 ODIs and 114 in 92 T20Is.
His recent achievements add further weight. Jasprit Bumrah picked up 15 wickets in the 2024 T20 World Cup and was named the Player of the Tournament. In 2024, he also finished as the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket and won both the ICC Cricketer of the Year and ICC Test Cricketer of the Year awards.
In the IPL, Jasprit Bumrah represents Mumbai Indians and has taken 183 wickets in 145 matches for the franchise.
Currently playing in the T20 World Cup 2026, Bumrah is on the verge of another milestone. If he takes three wickets in India’s third Super 8 match on March 1 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, he will become only the fourth Indian fast bowler after Kapil Dev, Javagal Srinath and Zaheer Khan to reach 500 international wickets.
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