Jasprit Bumrah’s stellar performance in India’s thrilling victory over Pakistan in the T20 World Cup has drawn praise from legendary spinner Anil Kumble. Bumrah’s ability to rise above challenging conditions and deliver consistently makes him a vital cog in India’s title chase, according to Kumble.

“We saw that with the 15th over where he got that wicket (of Mohammad Rizwan),” Anil Kumble said on ESPNCricinfo, highlighting Bumrah’s crucial dismissal that shifted momentum. “And then the 19th over, when you knew that if he had given a couple of boundaries, then last over 10 runs, 12 runs, possible.”

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Anil Kumble went a step further, stating that Bumrah’s role is pivotal to India’s championship aspirations. “But once it gets to that 18 runs, 19 runs, on a surface like this, (it’s) impossible for the tail-enders to come and get those runs. So Jasprit Bumrah, if India go on to win this tournament, he would have to play a major role,” he emphasized.

For Anil Kumble, Jasprit Bumrah’s ability to consistently put pressure on batters makes him an indispensable asset.

“Jasprit Bumrah should be your number one in your team list,” he declared. “Forget about the format, Jasprit Bumrah is your number one. Yes, this is a pitch where it was not easy for the bowlers but the variations and also the kind of pressure he puts on the batters…”

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Bumrah’s effectiveness transcends pitch conditions, as Anil Kumble pointed out. “Knowing that it’s not going to be easy, forget the surface, any surface, we have seen that right throughout his career, it’s not easy,” he said. “Any batter coming in front of Bumrah knows that it’s going to be tough, and on a surface like this, he just builds the pressure.”

With Bumrah leading the bowling attack, India hopes to maintain this winning momentum throughout the T20 World Cup.