Former Indian off-spinner Mohammad Kaif has praised Jasprit Bumrah for playing a major role during the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Mohammad Kaif feels that Jasprit Bumrah was the most important factor in Team India’s victory in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 tournament.
It is worth noting that Jasprit Bumrah played a key role in leading Rohit Sharma & Company to the final and helping them defeat all the teams. For instance, India gave a poor target of 119 to Pakistan in their group stage.
Pakistan also dominated the Men in Blue throughout the match but after Jasprit Bumrah returned to bowl after 10 overs, they dismantled all the key players.
Jasprit Bumrah had a wonderful performance throughout the tournament. The right-handed bowler took 15 wickets in 8 games at a staggering average of just 8.27. He finished as the second most wicket-taker in the tournament after Fazalhaq Farooqi and Arshdeep Singh with 17 wickets each.
Bumrah also bowled with a wonderful economy of just 4.18 and had a strike rate of 11.87. The statistics truly reveal Bumrah’s pace dominance in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
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The most important factor was Jasprit Bumrah: Mohammad Kaif
During a chat with ANI, former Indian batsman Mohammad Kaif said that Jasprit Bumrah was the most important factor in Team India securing victory in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. He also analysed the India vs Pakistan match at the start, where India defended a target of 199 runs.
“The most important factor was Jasprit Bumrah. Nobody can deny that. Bumrah’s arrival was the most important factor for the team. If we talk about Pakistan’s match, which was defended for 119, Pakistan’s match was very important,” he said.
“Pakistan’s defeat gives confidence to the team. Bumrah played an important role in that match. Bumrah defended 119 and dismissed Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed,” the legend of the field added.
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Kaif also pointed out that Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami were bowled out by Australian Travis Head several times in the past. However, the Australian opener could not do much this time. According to Kaif, Bumrah has the quality to see off the main bowlers.
“Bumrah brought out all the main players. Bumrah has that quality. After Pakistan’s defeat, there was a good atmosphere in the team. Bumrah’s role was very good. Bumrah and Mohammad Shami faced Travis Head again and again. Bumrah was beaten many times,” he added. Check out the full video below.
IANS Exclusive
Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif told IANS: “The biggest factor was Jasprit Bumrah, beating Pakistan gave them a lot of confidence going into the T20 World Cup. Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid formed a very balanced team. The team planning was really good. Ajit Agarkar too… pic.twitter.com/da9hJitqz2
— IANS (@ians_india) July 19, 2024
Jasprit Bumrah and Virat Kohli are the match winners: Mohammad Kaif
Kaif also felt that team togetherness is something that comes from playing well and winning matches and having winners like Bumrah and Kohli in the dressing room. He also pointed out that Bumrah had not been there before in many tournaments.
“People say Bumrah talked about team unity but that comes through winning. Team unity is not like that, it comes through playing well. When I see match-winners in the dressing room, I see Virat Kohli and Bumrah in the squad. Bumrah was not there before,” he concluded.
Interestingly, the Indian pacer suffered a back injury and was out of the field for nearly 11 months. In his absence, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj and other pacers took over the responsibility of the pace department.