“Jasprit Bumrah looked a little off color” - Mohammad Kaif analyses Indian pace spearhead’s Asia Cup 2025 campaign

Former Indian cricketer and cricket analyst Mohammad Kaif has reckoned that the Indian pace spearhead looked a bit off colour against the arch-rivals Pakistan in the Super Four clash on Sunday, September 21, in Dubai.

Advertisment

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif has asserted that whenever Bumrah tried to bowl a yorker, the deliveries ended up as full tosses, which is a rare phenomenon in the Indian seamer’s career. 

“Jasprit Bumrah looked a little off color. His spell was under some pressure, and whenever he was trying to bowl a yorker, many deliveries ended up as full tosses. I have very rarely seen Jasprit Bumrah, who is known for bowling precise yorkers, bowl so many full tosses. Several times the ball reached the height of the waist, and the batsman was able to hit it, including pull shots,” Mohammad Kaif said on his YouTube channel.

Furthermore, Kaif also felt that this could be because of Bumrah’s past injury issues, adding that he is bowling three consecutive overs in the power play for the same reason. Moreover, he noted that Rohit Sharma utilized the pacer perfectly well in the Indian Premier League when he was the captain of the franchise. 

“I feel this might still be related to the injury issues he had, whether it was during the England tour, where he played three Test matches, or the challenges he faced there. That’s why he’s bowling three overs back-to-back. He used to bowl the first over, then the 13th, then the 17th, and finally the 19th. In the IPL, Rohit Sharma as a captain used to manage him in this way when playing for India. But now I see a new trend where Bumrah is being given three overs consecutively,” he added.

Additionally, Kaif also shared that Bumrah, who is known for his pace, accuracy, and precise yorkers, seemed to be struggling with his signature weapon. However, he backed the pacer to come out good in the forthcoming games.

“The main reason, I think, is that for players who have been injured, Suryakumar has probably been told that once their body is warmed up, they should bowl two or three overs consecutively and get through them. I think somewhere he is not at his peak. Bumrah, who is known for his speed, accuracy, and precise yorkers, seems to be struggling with that signature weapon of his. In the last few matches, his yorkers have been turning into full tosses but I hope he comes out of it soon. There is no doubt that he is a very great bowler,” he concluded.

Advertisment

Stay updated with the latest cricket news, match insights, and exclusive updates at Sky247 India and download the Sky247 app to start betting today!