Former Pakistan captain
Speaking on the Shubhankar Mishra podcast, Waqar highlighted that while Bumrah is peerless in T20 and ODI cricket, his limited exposure to red-ball matches prevents him from being ranked above other established international fast bowlers. Waqar pointed to the consistent output of Australian quicks Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, as well as several English bowlers, as benchmarks that Bumrah must continue to chase in the longest format.
Evaluating Bumrah's Test and White-Ball Impact
Waqar’s assessment arrives despite Bumrah’s statistically impressive Test career, which includes 234 wickets across 52 matches at an average of 19.7 and a strike rate of 42.8. Since his debut, the right-arm pacer has achieved several milestones, including becoming the fastest Indian fast bowler to reach 50 Test wickets in 2018 and claiming his 100th wicket in his 24th appearance. In 2019, he became only the third Indian bowler to secure a Test hat-trick, and his performance in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy saw him claim a record 32 wickets across five Tests.
Despite these accolades and his success in England—where he has taken 51 wickets in 11 Tests—Waqar suggested that workload management and injury-related absences have hindered Bumrah’s ability to establish a more dominant long-term presence in the format. Bumrah is currently slated to return to action for India’s upcoming two-match Test series in New Zealand, a pivotal assignment for the team’s World Test Championship final aspirations.
The New York Turning Point
While expressing reservations about his Test standing, Waqar was effusive in his praise for Bumrah’s white-ball prowess, specifically recalling the 2024
Waqar noted that Bumrah’s dismissal of Mohammad Rizwan acted as the catalyst for a late-innings collapse, ultimately securing a six-run victory for India. For the former Pakistan captain, this spell epitomised Bumrah’s value as an impact player. He emphasised that whenever an Indian captain faces a crisis, Bumrah is the primary option to break partnerships and shift momentum. According to Waqar, such performances not only win matches but also serve to inspire teammates to elevate their own standards to match the intensity of their lead bowler.
