Jasprit Bumrah and the rise of unorthodox fast-bowling action

There was a time in international cricket when bowlers with unorthodox actions were not considered as good due to injury concerns. However, with time, things have changed, and now skill matters more than the action of a bowler. If a bowler is getting results, nothing is wrong with their technique. Over the years, we have seen several international cricketers with unique actions, making it difficult for batters to pick the ball and go for shots. Whether it’s former Indian cricketer Kapil Dev or Australian legend Jeff Thomson, who surprised every batter with his sensational pace and unpredictability, taking a total of 200 wickets in 51 games with a bowling economy of 3.18, such bowlers have made their mark.

In the present era, one bowler dominating international cricket with his unorthodox bowling action is Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah is one of the greatest match-winners for the Indian team, known for his sheer pace, ability to bowl cutters in the middle overs, and unplayable yorkers. In just 8 years since his debut, he is considered one of the best bowlers in international cricket, with 164 Test, 149 ODI, and 89 T20I wickets to his name.

Bumrah's journey to becoming one of India’s greatest bowlers wasn't easy; he faced criticism due to his unconventional action, which initially led to his exclusion from selection in his younger years. However, despite the challenges, Jasprit Bumrah didn't change his action. He made his mark in Gujarat’s T20 team during the 2012–13 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, helping them clinch the title with a Man of the Match performance in the final, with figures of 3/14 to beat Punjab.

Highlighting India’s best bowler, let's take a look at bowlers with similar actions in international cricket.

1. Naveen-ul-Haq

At number one, we have Afghanistan pacer Naveen-ul-Haq, who has a similar action to Jasprit Bumrah. Naveen is among the senior players of the Afghanistan national cricket team, representing them in 15 ODIs and 45 T20Is, with 22 and 59 wickets, respectively. Naveen's specialty lies in his slow-ball variations, which he uses effectively during the death overs. This skill has led him to play across the world in various franchise leagues like the CPL, BBL, LPL, and IPL.

However, his best performances were witnessed in the Indian Premier League and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where he finished the tournament with 13 wickets, including a three-wicket burst that was one of the highlights of Afghanistan's first-ever victory over Australia in any format. His impeccable bowling skills helped Afghanistan reach the semi-finals of a World Cup for the first time.

2. RCB’s Mukesh Kumar

Another young bowler who has a similar action to Jasprit Bumrah is RCB’s net bowler, Mukesh Kumar. He gained a lot of attention after a viral video showcasing his striking resemblance to Bumrah in bowling action. Previously associated with Gujarat Titans, Kumar has captivated fans and pundits alike with his impeccable imitation.

Apart from these two bowlers, there are several others in international cricket with unorthodox actions who are dominating the game by picking key wickets for their teams. Currently, Jasprit Bumrah is playing in a two-match Test series against Bangladesh after playing a crucial role in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign, where he was the second leading wicket-taker for the team. It will be interesting to see how Bumrah’s unorthodox action will continue to benefit the Indian team in the upcoming years, with several ICC events on the horizon.