India’s former World Cup-winning captain, Kapil Dev, has sparked an interesting debate over whether Jasprit Bumrah can continue playing for another decade due to his unorthodox bowling action, amidst the pick-and-choose debate following the England tour.
Bumrah played only in three Tests of the five-match Test series on the England tour, as the Indian selectors didn’t want to risk him, given the history of his injuries, especially his recent back injury that he had sustained on the Australia tour during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness and future are in headlines after the England tour
The star fast bowler’s absence in the final Test at The Oval drew heavy backlash from the former cricketers, and it reportedly forced the BCCI and national selectors to discuss ending the pick-and-choose luxury in the team. And if it happens, Bumrah will be the one to hurt the most.
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Since making his debut in 2016, Bumrah has been India’s go-to strike bowler. But the star fast bowler’s fitness issues interrupted his journey many times. His fitness issues forced the BCCI to manage his workload carefully, especially after he missed major tournaments like the 2022 T20 World Cup, the 2023 WTC Final, and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Now, reacting to the chatter over Bumrah’s fitness issues and inability to play a five-match Test series, Kapil Dev hailed the Indian star’s unique bowling style and ability to trouble even the best batters in any conditions. But the legendary all-rounder also expressed concerns about whether his action could limit Bumrah’s longevity at the highest level.
Kapil Dev wonders if Jasprit Bumrah can last another decade
Kapil Dev said on ‘The Squirrels’ YouTube channel, “There are two things that always come out. Any bowler in the world with an awkward action takes that much difficult time for a batter to pick the ball like Malinga. Those types of bowlers we don’t practice in the nets, and suddenly out of the blue, somebody comes with a different action, a difficult action; that fraction of a second, if you can’t pick what he’s trying to do, that is good enough for a bowler.”
The legendary all-rounder added, “So, Bumrah has become very good because nobody could imagine from a batsman’s point of view that in such a short run-up, he can generate such big pace. His action is not like an athlete’s action; that’s why Bumrah can be devastating for the opposition. But can he sustain that for a period of 10 or 12 years, which, as cricketers, we feel is difficult?”
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How Jasprit Bumrah’s unique action terrifies batters but threatens his back
Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling style is very different from most fast bowlers. He begins with a few casual walking steps, followed by a short, stuttered run, instead of charging in with a long run-up to build speed. He doesn’t gain much momentum before reaching the crease, which is rare.
Jasprit Bumrah doesn’t rely on his run-up, but he produces his pace through a mix of a strong front leg, quick arm rotation, a hyperextended elbow, and an extremely flexible wrist.
The Indian fast bowler also has a unique body bend at the time of release, leaning his upper body to the left more than most bowlers, which makes it harder for batters to pick him.
These traits make him one of the most dangerous and unpredictable bowlers in the world. But this unusual action puts a lot of stress on his back, making him more prone to injuries like stress fractures and back injuries compared to many other fast bowlers.
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