Jasprit Bumrah's Bowling Speed Decline Raises Concerns in Test Series Against England
Bumrah's Performance Under Scrutiny
Manchester [UK], July 26: Jasprit Bumrah, India's leading fast bowler, has shown a noticeable drop in his bowling speed during the ongoing Test series against England.
On the third day of the match, Bumrah had a challenging outing, completing 15 overs while conceding 48 runs and claiming just one wicket, that of wicketkeeper Jamie Smith. His overall performance in the match stands at 1/95 across 28 overs.
Throughout this series, Bumrah has delivered fewer balls exceeding 140 kmph. In his three Test appearances, he bowled 106 deliveries over this speed out of a total of 266 at Headingley, which accounts for 39.84 percent of his total deliveries. Although he achieved a five-wicket haul in the first innings, he failed to take any wickets in the second innings while defending a target of 371 runs.
During the third Test at Lord's, Bumrah bowled 257 balls, with only 69 (26.84 percent) exceeding 140 kmph. He managed to secure a five-wicket haul in the first innings and added two more wickets in the second, but India lost the match by 22 runs, falling short of chasing 193 runs.
In the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Bumrah's performance dipped further, with only one delivery exceeding 140 kmph out of 173 total balls, representing a mere 0.57 percent.
After missing the Edgbaston Test, Bumrah played back-to-back matches at Leeds and Lord's, with just eight days separating the two Tests.
During the second session, Bumrah appeared to struggle with his fitness. After the new ball was taken in the 91st over, he bowled just one over, conceding 11 runs before leaving the field. According to Sky Sports, he returned in the 98th over, bowled by Shardul Thakur, but was seen limping after injuring his left ankle while descending stairs earlier. Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri noted Bumrah's difficulties while walking, stating during live commentary that he would resume bowling after the tea break.
Bumrah did return to bowl in the final session, successfully taking Jamie's wicket.
Despite being the third-highest wicket-taker in the series with 13 wickets in five innings at an average of 26.69, including two five-wicket hauls, his performance seems lackluster considering he is returning to Test cricket after a significant injury layoff. This injury occurred during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 against Australia, where he took an impressive 32 wickets at an average of 13.06, including two four-wicket hauls and three five-wicket hauls.
Will Bumrah regain his top form on day four? Is there an underlying issue with his fitness? Only time will reveal the answers.