Waqar Younis’ Big Verdict on Bumrah: White-Ball King, But Questions Remain in Tests
However, test cricket is where Waqar holds back. Despite Bumrah's number like 234 wickets across 52 tests at a phenomenal average of 19.7. Younis insists that Bumrah still has a lot to prove in the longest format.
XtraTime Webdesk: Former Pakistan bowler Waqar Younis has sparked controversy with his assessment of Indian pace star Jasprit Bumrah. While giving an interview to journalist Shubhankar Mishra, Younis has delineated between Bumrah's white-ball and red-ball legacy.
Waqar believes that Bumrah is in a league of his own in white-ball cricket. He pointed out that no modern bowler matches the Indian pacer's ability to flip a game under intense pressure. Waqar specifically brought up the 2024 T20 World Cup clash in New York. Pakistan was cruising at 80 for 3 and needed just 40 runs from 36 balls. Bumrah came back to dismiss Mohammad Rizwan.
That single breakthrough triggered a collapse, handing India a close six-run win. According to Waqar, whenever India struggles with batting, handing the ball to Bumrah is the ultimate fix.
However, Waqar holds back praise regarding Bumrah's Test record. Bumrah has 234 wickets across 52 Tests at a phenomenal average of 19.7. Yet, Waqar Younis insists that Bumrah still has a lot to prove in the longest format.
He says that Bumrah has not played enough red-ball cricket because of injuries and load management. To him, his record is not good enough compared to Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and other English seamers.
Having not played a single Test all year, Bumrah gets his next shot at proving his longevity during India's upcoming two-Test tour of New Zealand, with a World Test Championship final spot on the line.
