In a direct and unequivocal response, India’s formidable pacer Jasprit Bumrah has publicly dismissed former cricketer Mohammad Kaif’s recent remarks regarding his bowling strategy and workload management, labelling them as ‘inaccurate’.
The controversy ignited on Thursday evening when Mohammad Kaif took to social media, expressing concerns about Bumrah’s deployment in white-ball cricket, particularly during the ongoing Asia Cup. Kaif highlighted a perceived shift in strategy under stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav, noting that Bumrah had bowled a three-over spell with the new ball at the start of an innings, rather than reserving his efforts for the crucial death overs – a pattern typically observed under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy. Kaif’s post, shared on X (formerly Twitter), warned that such an approach might ‘hurt India’ against stronger teams in upcoming tournaments like the World Cup, suggesting Bumrah prioritizes bowling when his body is already warmed up to mitigate injury risks. He specifically stated: “Bumrah under Rohit would generally bowl overs 1, 13, 17, 19. Under Surya, in Asia Cup, he bowled a three-overs spell at the start. To avoid injury, Bumrah these days, prefers to bowl while his body is warmed up. 1 over of Bumrah in the remaining 14 overs is a huge relief for batters, against stronger teams at World Cup, this could hurt India.”
Bumrah’s response was swift and sharp, directly quoting Kaif’s post with a concise and pointed dismissal: “Inaccurate before inaccurate again.” This potent reply suggests that Bumrah not only found Kaif’s current analysis flawed but also implied a history of similar misjudgments from the former India batter regarding his bowling.
Despite these critical remarks, the Indian selectors have continued to show unwavering confidence in Bumrah’s abilities and fitness. He was recently named in India’s squad for the upcoming two-Test home series against West Indies, scheduled to commence on October 2 in Ahmedabad. Chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar, has publicly affirmed Bumrah’s fitness, confirming he is fully prepared following a rest period after the England tour.
This exchange occurs at a pivotal moment, with India poised to compete in the Asia Cup final on Sunday against either Pakistan or Bangladesh. Bumrah’s performance, whether leading the attack with the new ball or delivering crucial spells in the death overs, is expected to be a decisive factor in India’s quest for the championship title. The brief but emphatic online exchange adds another layer of intrigue to the pre-final narrative, underscoring the intense scrutiny and high stakes involved in international cricket.
Poll: Do you agree with Mohammad Kaif’s assessment of Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling strategy?
- Yes, he has a valid point
- No, Bumrah knows his best strategy