Former India all-rounder and now a respected commentator, Irfan Pathan, has raised questions over Jasprit Bumrah’s overall impact in the recently concluded Test series against England. Despite finishing with 14 wickets in just three Tests, Bumrah’s performances didn’t fully reflect the stature of a world number one bowler, according to Pathan.
Bumrah, who featured in only three of the five Tests, bowled a total of 119.4 overs across five innings, maintaining a decent average of 26 and an economy of 3.04. However, it was his underwhelming show in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Manchester—where he conceded over 100 runs for the first time in his career—that triggered critical conversations around his consistency and match impact.
While acknowledging Bumrah’s five-wicket haul at Lord’s, which earned him a place on the prestigious honours board, Irfan Pathan emphasised that elite-level players are judged not just by flashes of brilliance but by sustained excellence.
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“Yes, he got his name on the board, but a number one bowler is expected to deliver number one-level performances consistently, and I felt he fell short of that,” Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube channel.
Pathan also highlighted instances where Bumrah could have gone the extra mile. “In that Lord’s Test, when Joe Root was in, Bumrah had already dismissed him 11 times before. He bowled just five overs in that spell—why not a sixth? It felt like he held back,” Irfan Pathan added, pointing out Bumrah’s tendency to pick and choose spells, something he strongly disapproves of.
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Bumrah had informed the team management ahead of the tour that he would only play three Tests to manage his return from injury. With the T20 World Cup 2026 on the horizon, it remains uncertain whether India’s pace spearhead will be available for the home Tests against West Indies and South Africa later this year.
