Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan lauded ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah for his match-winning performance in the T20 World Cup 2026 final against New Zealand. The match was held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, March 8.
Pathan said there will never be anyone like Bumrah, highlighting how his economy rate stayed around six throughout the tournament. India posted 255/5 in 20 overs, and in reply, Bumrah showcased his class with figures of 4/15 in four overs as the Black Caps were bowled out for 159 in 19 overs, falling short by 96 runs.
“The most important one is Jasprit Bumrah. There will never be anyone like him, no one who can take his place. He is a very special player. He finished with 14 wickets, equal with Varun Chakaravarthy. But where is his economy rate? His economy rate is around six or even less in a World Cup where your team scores around 250 runs, and you bring the opposition to their knees. That is the kind of bowler Jasprit Bumrah is,” said Pathan on his YouTube channel.
Pathan noted that the right-arm seamer bowled several slower deliveries, yet the New Zealand batters could not hit him even once, highlighting his exceptional skill. Bumrah finished the tournament as the joint-highest wicket-taker alongside Varun Chakravarthy, claiming 14 wickets in eight matches at an average of 12.2, a strike rate of 12, and an economy rate of 6.21.
“Even today, if you looked at his first three overs, it was very clear that out of the first 18 balls, 14 were slower deliveries. Just imagine that. Is there any other bowler who can bowl 14 slower balls out of 18 deliveries and still not get hit by the batter? It is almost impossible. But that is Bumrah’s ability. The batter knows that he keeps using the slower one again and again, yet it is still very hard to attack him,” said Pathan.
Pathan noted that he has never seen a white-ball bowler like Bumrah. He hailed the pacer as the ‘GOAT,’ saying it is because of players like him that the Indian team commands pride worldwide. Across all formats, Bumrah has played 236 matches, claiming 504 wickets at an average of 20.49.
“In my opinion, I have never seen a bowler like Jasprit Bumrah. I played professional cricket for more than 20 years, and in my life I have never seen such a bowler, especially in white-ball formats. His skill is extraordinary, and that has to be acknowledged,” said Pathan.
“He is the GOAT. He is the greatest of all time when it comes to white-ball cricket for India. For India, he is undoubtedly the greatest. There is no doubt about it because he does not do difficult things just once, he does them again and again, especially in big matches. He took four wickets here, and because Jasprit Bumrah is in the team, the Indian cricket team walks with pride across the world. As long as he is around, everyone should enjoy watching his bowling and consider themselves fortunate that India has a bowler like Jasprit Bumrah,” he concluded.
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