Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan showered rich praise on pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah following his decisive spell in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal between India and England at Wankhede Stadium. According to Pathan, India is fortunate to have a bowler of Bumrah’s calibre, describing him as a rare talent capable of delivering under the toughest match situations.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Pathan highlighted why Bumrah stands apart from most fast bowlers in world cricket. The former India pacer called him a once-in-a-generation bowler who possesses an exceptional mix of skill, intelligence, and composure in high-pressure moments.
“I have spoken about Bumrah many times before and I will say it again. We are lucky that a bowler like Jasprit Bumrah plays for India. India has never had a bowler like him before. Perhaps the world has rarely seen a bowler like him. He has everything including yorkers, slower balls, outswing, inswing, and bouncers. He also knows very well how to bowl under pressure,” Irfan Pathan said.
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The semifinal turned into a high-scoring thriller after India posted a massive 253/7, powered by a sensational 89 off 42 balls from Sanju Samson. England, however, stayed in the chase for a long period thanks to a brilliant century from Jacob Bethell.
The game’s momentum shifted dramatically in the 18th over when Bumrah stepped up at a crucial stage. With England needing 45 runs from the final three overs, the Indian pacer delivered a masterclass in death bowling. He conceded just six runs in the over while landing four precise yorkers that stalled England’s charge.
The pressure created by Bumrah allowed Hardik Pandya to follow it up with a superb penultimate over, giving away only nine runs and dismissing Sam Curran. England eventually finished on 246/7, handing India a thrilling seven-run victory. Pathan even suggested that Bumrah deserved the Player of the Match award for his impact on such a batting-friendly surface.
“According to me, Jasprit Bumrah should have been the Player of the Match. If you watched the game, you would have noticed that every other bowler had an economy rate of around 10. Some were even above 10 or close to 15. On such a flat pitch, 500 runs were scored. The one who performs the difficult job in such conditions is the real Player of the Match,” Irfan Pathan said.
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Pathan also praised Bumrah’s tactical awareness, particularly the way he dismissed Harry Brook early in the innings.
“Once again, when he came to bowl, the first batter he faced was Harry Brook. He did not try to bowl fast because he has a brilliant cricketing mind. He trapped Harry Brook with a slower ball right away,” Irfan Pathan explained.
According to Pathan, that moment perfectly captured Bumrah’s greatest strength — his ability to read conditions and outthink batters rather than relying solely on pace.
