Jasprit Bumrah, once hailed as India's premier death-overs specialist and a formidable fast bowler, seems to be losing his Midas touch in recent times. His bowling, which was once characterized by lethal yorkers and deceptive slower balls, now appears. To lack the same penetration and wicket-taking ability, sparking apprehension among cricket enthusiasts and experts alike. His recent performance in the second T20 International against South Africa was particularly underwhelming, where he failed to make a significant impact for his team.
Underwhelming Performance Against South Africa
In the second T20I encounter against South Africa, Jasprit Bumrah proved largely ineffective. During this crucial match, he conceded a hefty 45 runs in his allotted four overs, failing to pick up a single wicket. These figures starkly highlight his current form, where batsmen are finding it relatively easy to score against him. Throughout the game, South African batsmen like Donovan Ferreira, Quinton de Kock, and David Miller launched several big strokes against Bumrah's bowling, clearly demonstrating the pressure he was under, while he also bowled two wide deliveries in the match, further indicating a lapse in his control over line and length.
An Analysis of His Last Five T20 International Matches
Jasprit Bumrah's statistics from his last five T20I matches paint a clear picture of his current struggles. Across these five games, he has conceded a total of 141 runs while managing to pick up only five wickets, while this performance stands in stark contrast to his earlier career and his peak form, where he was a consistent wicket-taker and an economical bowler. Of these five matches, two were played against South Africa and three against Australia.
Detailed Breakdown of Match-by-Match Performance
On December 11, 2025, against South Africa, Bumrah gave away 45 runs without taking any wickets. Prior to that, on December 9, 2025, also against South Africa, he had a slightly better outing, conceding 17 runs for 2 wickets, which was his best performance in this five-match sequence, while against Australia on November 6, 2025, he took 1 wicket for 27 runs, while on November 2, 2025, against the same opponent, he went wicketless, conceding 26 runs. His performance on October 31, 2025, against Australia saw him take 2 wickets for 26 runs. These figures collectively indicate a consistent trend of conceding runs, coupled with a noticeable decline in his wicket-taking prowess. On top of that, in the Asia Cup match against Pakistan, he had also conceded 45 runs in four overs without taking a wicket, which serves as another example of his current form.
From Death-Overs Specialist to a Weak Link
There was a time when Jasprit Bumrah was considered the most lethal bowler in the death overs. His pinpoint yorkers and well-disguised slower balls were an enigma for batsmen. He frequently delivered crucial breakthroughs or stifled run flow in decisive moments, guiding Team India to victory. However, it now appears that he isn't in his old rhythm, and batsmen are finding it easier to score freely against him. Where he once played a pivotal role in the team's victories, his current performance is being viewed as a potential weak link in losses, as evidenced in the second T20I against South Africa.
An Illustrious Career and Present Challenges
Jasprit Bumrah made his T20 International debut for the Indian team in 2016. In his career so far, he has taken a total of 101 wickets in 82 T20I matches, which is an impressive record. He also played a crucial role in India's T20 World Cup triumph, where he bagged 15 wickets in the tournament, earning him the 'Player of the Tournament' award for his outstanding performance. This period marked a golden chapter in his career, showcasing his immense talent and match-winning capabilities. However, he's now facing the challenge of regaining his old form and magic to once again prove himself as a match-winner for Team India.
The Road Ahead: Challenges and Expectations
For a world-class bowler like Jasprit Bumrah, this phase might be challenging, but confidence in his talent and experience remains, while cricket fans and team management are hopeful that he will soon return to his prime form and once again trouble batsmen with his devastating bowling. His comeback won't only be crucial for his individual performance but also vital for the success of the Indian team, especially with major upcoming tournaments on the horizon. The question of whether his magic is truly fading or if this is merely a. Temporary dip in form remains to be seen, but the cricketing world eagerly awaits his resurgence.
