Jasprit Bumrah is experiencing a rough stretch that feels out of character for a bowler of his stature. In this IPL season, he has gone wicketless across five matches—an unusual run for a pacer who is typically expected to deliver decisive strikes when games are on a knife-edge. For years, captains have leaned on him to swing momentum, but right now it looks like he has encountered a roadblock. While there are moments where his line and discipline appear intact, the attacking, match-breaking edge that usually defines his bowling has not been showing up consistently. For a player renowned for thriving under pressure, this lean phase is something he will be determined to shake off quickly.
Former India opener Wasim Jaffer weighed in on Bumrah’s wicket drought and suggested the issue may be linked to a noticeable drop in rhythm and body language. Jaffer pointed to the possibility that the fast bowler is not carrying his usual fitness levels, arguing that Bumrah’s control and sharpness have looked slightly off when compared with his best form—particularly the level he displayed around the World Cup and in the period leading up to it.
“I feel that Jasprit Bumrah is not 100 per cent fit, to be honest. This is my perception and my belief. When we are watching Bumrah bowl, the body language we are seeing is not the same as what we saw in the World Cup or even before that. So I sometimes feel that he is not at his best. Because Jasprit Bumrah does not usually miss his lengths like this, and he does not usually get hit like this. If he were 100 per cent fit, I cannot imagine Jasprit Bumrah bowling like this and continuing like this. So I feel that somewhere, he is not 100 per cent fit,” Jaffer said.
“Zing in Bumrah’s bowling is missing”
Jaffer also elaborated on what he believes is going wrong in Bumrah’s current spell pattern. He noted that the sharpness and the late movement that have often troubled batters seem to have dulled slightly. In his view, while every bowler experiences changes in form, Bumrah appears to be in a stretch where key details are not falling into place.
“It feels like that zing in Bumrah’s bowling is missing. It seems like that ball which used to come in quickly and hit the bat hard is slightly lacking now. Form doesn’t always stay the same, and it’s not like Bumrah will bowl brilliantly every time or have a great spell in every match. Right now it feels like he is going through a phase where things are not quite working.”
