In a candid conversation on the Overlap Cricket YouTube channel with Michael Vaughan, former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh looked back on his own cricketing journey—from growing up idolising Sachin Tendulkar to eventually writing his way into the sport as a big-name star. He also took time to heap praise on Jasprit Bumrah, describing him as “the best,” and shared a memorable glimpse from the early days of Bumrah’s rise.
Speaking about a striking moment dating back to 2013, Yuvraj revealed that during a net session he once asked a teenage Bumrah to stop bowling at him. Yuvraj said that at the time he was trying to stage a comeback after his recovery and that he could sense how brutally quick Bumrah was even then. “When I was trying to come back and he was 16 years old, he was bowling rapid quick in the nets. It was 2013 and I was like, ‘I want this kid out the nets—stop bowling to me,’ because I was just recovering from cancer and I was trying to get back to cricket,” Yuvraj recalled. He added with a laugh that Bumrah’s pace felt so dangerous that he essentially pleaded with him to stop. “And this guy was just bowling lethal—I was like, ‘Kid, stop whoever you are,’” he said.
Yuvraj also explained why Bumrah’s early spell was so hard to deal with, pointing to the way his action and natural pace unsettled batters. “He definitely had a long run-up. I don’t think he had many skills back then, but he was quick—extremely quick. And with his action, you know, he gets this deceptive bounce. It just keeps getting on your ribs all the time,” Yuvraj said.
Jasprit Bumrah’s consistency across formats
Since breaking into international cricket, Jasprit Bumrah has gone on to become one of the standout fast bowlers of the modern era, producing strong performances across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. In Tests, he has taken roughly 234 wickets at an average close to 20, a record that underlines how dominant he has been, particularly when conditions move away from the bat abroad.
In ODIs, Bumrah has collected 149 wickets with an economy rate below 5, placing him among the most dependable options in limited-overs cricket. In T20Is, he has 121 wickets and continues to maintain an elite economy of around 6.5 to 7, with his effectiveness coming through especially in the late overs.
Within the IPL, Bumrah has continued to deliver consistently for Mumbai Indians, taking 183 wickets. Known for razor-precise execution, devastating yorkers, and composure when the pressure rises, his numbers reflect not only steadiness but also a clear match-winning influence across formats.
