Former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis has hailed Jasprit Bumrah as the standout bowler in modern-day white-ball cricket but believes the Indian fast bowler still has more to establish in the Test format.Despite Bumrah‘s impressive record of 234 wickets in 52 Tests at an average of 19.7 and a strike rate of 42.8, Waqar feels the pacer has not played enough red-ball cricket to be placed ahead of other leading fast bowlers.“There’s no modern-day bowler of the same calibre as Bumrah with the white ball. Leave out Test cricket. He still has a lot to prove in Tests; he hasn’t played as much. There are plenty of others, like Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. You can’t ignore some of the English bowlers either. But when you talk about T20 and one-day cricket, I feel that in terms of impact, Bumrah always delivers in crunch scenarios. And that’s what matters,” Waqar said on the Shubhankar Mishra podcast.Waqar’s assessment comes despite Bumrah’s significant achievements in the longest format. The India pacer became the fastest Indian fast bowler to reach 50 Test wickets in 2018, accomplishing the milestone in his 11th match. He went on to claim his 100th Test wicket in his 24th appearance.Bumrah also became only the third Indian bowler to take a Test hat-trick in 2019. His performances in 2024 earned him the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year award, while he finished the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy with 32 wickets in five Tests, a record haul for the series.The right-arm pacer has also been highly effective in England, taking 51 wickets in 11 Tests.One possible reason behind Waqar’s assessment is Bumrah’s limited availability in Test cricket compared with Australian quicks Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. Injuries and workload management have affected his participation, and he is yet to play a Test for India this year.Bumrah is expected to return for India’s two-match Test series in New Zealand next month, with a place in the World Test Championship final at stake.
Waqar recalls Bumrah’s match-winning spell against Pakistan
While questioning Bumrah’s standing in Tests, Waqar was unequivocal about the Indian pacer’s influence in ODIs and T20Is. He particularly remembered Bumrah’s decisive contribution in India’s six-run victory over Pakistan at the 2024 T20 World Cup in New York.Pakistan appeared firmly in control at 80/3 after 14 overs, needing only 40 runs from the final six overs to chase India’s target of 120. Bumrah dismissed Mohammad Rizwan, triggering a collapse that helped India defend the modest total.Waqar believes that spell demonstrated why Bumrah is such a valuable asset in high-pressure situations, particularly when a captain needs a breakthrough.“Whenever an India captain is in trouble, he always gives the ball to Bumrah. Pakistan had no business losing in New York. The required rate was well under control. That over in which Bumrah dismissed Rizwan proved to be the difference. Impact players are the key players. A top player can motivate others who too feel that we have to match him,” said Waqar, who took 373 wickets in Test cricket for Pakistan.For Waqar, Bumrah’s greatest strength in white-ball cricket is his ability to deliver when the stakes are highest, making him a decisive figure in crucial moments.
