Cricket: Jasprit Bumrah and the art of taking wickets — what makes the Indian fast bowler world-class

India needs an effective fast bowling partner for Bumrah to win more games

Last updated:
Shyam A. Krishna, Acting Editor
2 MIN READ
India's Jasprit Bumrah bowls during the first cricket Test against England at Headingley, Leeds, on June 24, 2025.
India's Jasprit Bumrah bowls during the first cricket Test against England at Headingley, Leeds, on June 24, 2025.
AFP

Jasprit Bumrah is India’s one-man army — the only fast bowler who truly strikes fear into rival batsmen. And that’s the problem. Cricket is a team game, and Bumrah alone cannot carry India to victory.

The Headingley Test last week is a prime example. Bumrah was the most dangerous bowler in the first innings. If he had adequate support from fellow pacemen Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna and the fielders, the result could have been different. The England batsmen simply saw off Bumrah and attacked the others. The strategy worked.

What makes Bumrah special? For starters, his unconventional bowling style. It’s certainly not textbook. While most fast bowlers have smooth, accelerating run-ups, Bumrah ambles in — showing urgency only in the last few strides.

There’s no classic jump at the crease, unlike greats like Dennis Lillee, Andy Roberts, Richard Hadlee, Imran Khan, or Kapil Dev. Instead, Bumrah takes a small leap. His bowling arm straightens with a hyper-extended elbow, his wrist cocks, and he slings the ball like a catapult.

Through this whir of arms and legs, batsmen often lose sight of the ball until the last moment — just as it’s released at over 140 km/h.

His release point adds to the difficulty. Most bowlers deliver the ball when their arm aligns with the front leg. Bumrah releases it further ahead, giving batsmen even less time to react.

The Bumrah repertoire

As if that’s not enough, he’s got variety. The 31-year-old can swing the ball in, take it away, reverse it too. Add to that a sharp bouncer, clever slower balls, and a deadly toe-crushing yorker — and you have a bowler lethal in all formats.

Bumrah is at the peak of his powers. Cricket pundits call him a complete fast bowler — and rightly so. He thrives across formats and conditions.

But beyond physical attributes and variations, it's his ability to outthink batsmen that sets him apart. That’s what makes him different — and dangerous. He finds ways to take wickets regardless of the match situation. Even a well-set batsman isn’t safe when Bumrah’s on the hunt.

Fast bowlers usually hunt in pairs. Cricket history is full of examples: Trueman and Statham, Lindwall and Miller, Hall and Griffith, Lillee and Thomson, Roberts and Holding, Willis and Botham, Imran and Sarfraz. Even Kapil Dev had Karsan Ghavri early on.

But Bumrah operates alone. Mohammed Shami — India’s next-best seamer — has been injury-prone, and they’ve rarely bowled in tandem in Tests.

Fast bowlers need support. Sustained pressure from both ends brings wickets.

If India can find someone consistent enough to back Bumrah, they’ll win more Tests. One Bumrah doesn’t make an attack.

Shyam A. Krishna
Shyam A. KrishnaActing Editor
Shyam A. Krishna has been slicing and dicing news for nearly 40 years and is in no mood to slow down. As Acting Editor, he runs the newsroom — digital and print.  Sports was the passion that ignited his career, and he now writes about just about everything: news, business, sports, health, travel, and entertainment. Even cooking! You might have spotted him at COP28, the Arabian Travel Market, the Dubai World Cup racing, the T20 World Cup cricket, the Dubai tennis and Abu Dhabi Formula One motor racing.   Before all that, the newsroom was (and still is) his home turf. As Night Editor, he designed and produced pages for several years before focusing on Opinion pieces.   The transition from Opinion Editor to Senior Associate Editor signalled a return to writing — from special reports and blogs to features. And when he’s not chasing stories or deadlines, Shyam is probably making travel plans or baking something. 
Related Topics:

Sign up for the Daily Briefing

Get the latest news and updates straight to your inbox

Up Next