Jasprit Bumrah hits back at ex-India cricketer for misleading remark ahead of the Asia Cup 2025 final

Jasprit Bumrah has sparked a major debate in Indian cricket after lashing out at former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif over comments made about his fitness and bowling approach during the Asia Cup 2025. The war of words unfolded on social media after Kaif suggested that Bumrah was intentionally avoiding death overs to protect himself from potential injuries. The fast bowler did not take kindly to the claim, calling it inaccurate and dismissing it as another instance of flawed analysis from Kaif.

Mohammad Kaif’s claim on Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling role

Kaif’s assessment came after observing Bumrah’s unusual bowling pattern in the ongoing Asia Cup. Traditionally, under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, the spearhead would be deployed across various phases of an innings, often holding back overs for the tense death stages. However, in the Super 4 matches under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav with Gautam Gambhir shaping strategy, Bumrah consistently bowled three successive overs up front with the new ball.

This noticeable shift prompted Kaif to argue that India might be overprotecting their premier bowler. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Kaif explained that Bumrah’s altered workload suggested a desire to bowl only when “warmed up.” He pointed out that keeping Bumrah away from the closing overs allowed opposition batters to breathe easier, particularly against stronger teams leading into the World Cup. Kaif also highlighted that under the new pattern, Bumrah’s presence in just one over across the final 14 overs of Bangladesh’s innings posed tactical questions about India’s finishing power with the ball. He concluded that while this move may shield Bumrah from injuries, it risked exposing India’s bowling line-up in crunch situations.

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Bumrah’s strong rebuttal and India’s management strategy

Bumrah swiftly rejected the narrative. Responding on X, he wrote, “Inaccurate before inaccurate again,” making it clear that Kaif’s analysis was neither reflective of his mindset nor of team strategy. The pacer has historically been India’s go-to bowler at the death, celebrated for his yorkers and control under pressure. While his absence in the closing overs has raised eyebrows among analysts, Bumrah’s confidence suggests the choice is more tactical than personal.

On-field results also back this. Against Bangladesh in the Super 4s, Bumrah’s early spell with the new ball rattled their top order, providing India with a strong position. Meanwhile, the final overs were managed by Shivam Dube and Kuldeep Yadav. Though unconventional, this approach has brought mixed success while also easing Bumrah’s workload in a tournament leading up to the World Cup.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has carefully handled Bumrah’s return ever since he suffered a serious back injury during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. He was sidelined for a significant period, missing crucial Tests against England before making a comeback in T20Is. With his career workload already a major concern, team management appears determined to keep him fresh for the World Cup campaign.

For Kaif, the comments were intended as tactical evaluation, but Bumrah’s sharp retort has added intensity to an already high-pressure Asia Cup environment. As India prepare for their last Super 4 encounter, the debate underscores both the scrutiny on Bumrah and the fine balance India must maintain between conserving their strike bowler and utilizing his match-winning skills in critical moments. Ultimately, how India employs Bumrah in the coming weeks could shape not just their Asia Cup run but also their World Cup ambitions.