ICC World Cup 2023 | Jasprit Bumrah- Records, Profile & SWOT Analysis

Jasprit Bumrah in action [OC Graphic team]

The ICC World Cup is back in India after twelve long years, and it's time for the country's 1.4 billion fans to witness the biggest cricketing extravaganza on home soil. India, a team studded with Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya, enter the competition as one of the most threatening batting units, while the presence of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj makes them fearsome with the white cherry. 

Talking about Bumrah, the ace speedster took a considerable period to recover from a serious back injury, but he certainly has been unstoppable since the Asia Cup 2023. A bowler capable of giving sleepless nights to the opponent batters, Bumrah is going to be India's most lethal bowling weapon in the marquee event. 

So, as the Men in Blue gear up for the 2023 World Cup, let's analyse and find out what value he brings to the table for his side. 

Jasprit Bumrah Player Profile

After grabbing a million eyeballs through his unusual action and ability to nail yorker at will, Jasprit Bumrah was handed his debut ODI cap during India's Australia tour in 2016. He got a prolific start, getting the prized scalp of Steve Smith and finishing with impressive bowling figures of two for 40 in his ten-over spell. 

As expected, the fiery pacer gradually established himself as the mainstay of India's pace department, leading them to many memorable victories across formats. 

Jasprit Bumrah Records

Despite several injury setbacks, Bumrah has been exceptional for India in ODIs, scalping 129 wickets in only 78 matches at an average of 24.31 and a surreal economy of 4.67. He has featured in a solitary World Cup edition in 2019, where he finished as India's most successful bowler with eighteen wickets at an economy of 4.41.

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Jasprit Bumrah SWOT Analysis

Strengths

Swing, Seam & Accuracy in the powerplay: Primarily a seam bowler, Bumrah can also deliver genuine outswingers with the new ball. Furthermore, his ability to hit the right areas more often than not makes him the hardest bowler to score against in the powerplay. Statistically, Bumrah bowls 73.2 per cent dot balls in the first ten overs, preventing the batters from capitalising on the field restrictions. 

A master of variations and yorker in slog overs: Besides his new-ball exploits, Bumrah's death-bowling skills make him India's first-choice bowler across three phases in ODIs. They can use him as an enforcer in the middle overs, thanks to his ability to hit the deck hard. He is also their primary death bowler, as he has wily variations and deadly yorkers in his armoury.

Weakness

Adamant on length balls despite getting hit: Regarding his skills, Jasprit Bumrah has no apparent weakness. However, when he is up against someone who can dispatch his hard-length deliveries into the stands, sometimes Bumrah overuses the length balls, not trusting his yorkers and bouncers enough. 

For example, Mitchell Marsh, an incredible player of hit-the-deck bowling, recently clobbered him for a few boundaries in the third ODI in Rajkot. In such a scenario, Bumrah should use yorkers and bouncers more rather than persisting on the length balls. 

Opportunity

Bowl game-breaking spells in knockouts: Whenever a team plays against India, its batters carefully negotiate Bumrah's ten overs while taking on the other Indian bowlers. So, despite being economical, Bumrah has been scrutinised for not picking crucial wickets in the knockout games of the showpiece events. 

Statistically, the fast bowler has got only three wickets in as many knockout fixtures in the ICC Champions Trophy and World Cup. So, this tournament gives him the opportunity to step up as India's strike bowler in the big games and silence his critics. 

Threats

Workload & Injury-prone action: Bumrah has an unorthodox frontal action, which has resulted in several injuries in his career. He has a short run-up but generates great force through his shoulders and back to bowl at a rapid pace. Also, given that he will operate across phases in the World Cup, his workload must be managed carefully throughout the event. 

So, although he looks fine post-rehab, the injury-prone action is still the biggest threat to him, as it could potentially rule him out midway in the tournament. 

Player Rating: Jasprit Bumrah

Speed- 9/10

Accuracy- 9.5/10

Bowling in power play- 9/10

Bowling in middle overs- 8.5/10

Bowling in death overs- 9/10

Economy Rate- 10/10

Experience- 9/10

Overall- 9.1/10

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