Jasprit Bumrah is probably the best pacer in the current generation across all three formats. The ace pacer has some incredible numbers, whether in ODIs, T20Is, or Test matches. He has been delivering performances match-after-match, which has made him a modern-day great.
His pin-point accuracy and the ability to bowl six yorkers in an over make him a difficult bowler to handle. He has also shown up in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) in India. Bumrah has taken 5 wickets in four games at an incredible economy rate of 6.12, and MI has been involved in high-scoring matches.
That’s what makes him a bankable bowler in pressure situations. There is no doubt that if given a chance to pick a bowler to defend 10 runs in an over, Bumrah will feature at the top of the list of every captain in the world.
However, the new white-ball captain of Pakistan, Babar Azam, feels in totally opposite directions. In an interaction on a recent podcast, Babar was asked about a bowler whom he would pick between Naseem Shah and Bumrah with ten runs to defend. He was asked, “One over, T20 match; you have to win the match; you have two options to defend 10 runs; whom will you give the last over, Naseem or Bumrah?”
The Pakistan cap chose his countryman, Naseem Shah. Furthermore, he praised the 21-year-old and lauded him for his comeback after an injury. Naseem was part of the recently concluded PSL 2024 for Quetta Gladiators. He is likely to make his international comeback in the upcoming five-match T20I series at home against New Zealand.
Babar is back as captain. He has replaced Shaheen Afridi, who was made T20I captain for one series. Babar was sacked from the captaincy after Pakistan’s dismissal show in the ODI World Cup 2023. But he will be leading the country in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 as well.
