Advertisement
Advertisement
Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has heaped praise on India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, likening him to a “genie” after the fast bowler delivered a decisive spell in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final against England.
Bumrah once again proved why he is regarded as one of the most lethal bowlers in world cricket, playing a pivotal role in India’s narrow seven-run victory in a high-scoring contest at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.
Defending a daunting total of 253, India faced a tense finish as England mounted a fierce chase, largely powered by Jacob Bethell’s explosive century.
With 45 runs required off the final three overs, captain Suryakumar Yadav turned to Bumrah for the crucial 18th over.
The right-arm pacer responded with remarkable composure, delivering a mix of pinpoint yorkers and deceptive full deliveries that restricted England to just six runs in the over.
The tight spell ultimately swung the momentum back in India’s favour as England fell agonisingly short despite Bethell’s 105.
Speaking after the match, Faf du Plessis described Bumrah as a dream weapon for any captain.
“Team India probably doesn’t realise how fortunate they are to have him,” du Plessis said.
“You just hand him the ball, and he finds a way to win matches for you. It’s a superpower every captain would want. It’s like having a genie, you rub the lamp, and Bumrah appears.”
The 32-year-old finished with figures of 1-33 in his four overs in a match that saw a combined total of 499 runs scored, highlighting the difficulty bowlers faced on the batting-friendly surface.
Du Plessis also pointed to Bumrah’s unconventional action as a key factor behind his effectiveness, noting that it makes it extremely difficult for batters to pick the ball early.
“Even when the batter knows what’s coming, a yorker or a slower ball, it’s still hard to line him up,” he explained. “His action is unique, and the ball comes out so quickly that batters struggle to react in time.”
READ: England skipper Harry Brook heaps high praise on Jacob Bethell
