Jasprit Bumrah’s Test career appears to be nearing its end as persistent injuries and a noticeable drop in pace raise serious doubts about his future in the format, says former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif.
Bumrah has battled recurring injuries in recent years, prompting the BCCI to limit him to just three Tests on India’s England tour. After playing at Headingley and Lord’s, he is currently featuring in the Manchester Test but has struggled to make an impact. His pace has fallen sharply compared to earlier matches, sparking concern among experts and fans alike.
In the recent Border-Gavaskar series against Australia, Bumrah was India’s standout bowler, taking 32 wickets at an impressive average of 13.06. However, continuous strain led to a back injury during the final Test, forcing him out of bowling in the last innings. The injury problem has been a recurring issue throughout his career.
During the England tour, Bumrah took 13 wickets across two Tests at Headingley and Lord’s but had managed only one wicket by the end of day three in Manchester. More worrying is his drastic reduction in bowling speed — while he bowled nearly 40% of his deliveries at 140 km/h or above at Headingley, this figure fell to less than 1% in Manchester.
Kaif feels this loss of pace signals the beginning of the end for Bumrah’s Test career. “He’s struggling physically and may soon have to retire from Tests,” Kaif said. “Bumrah is a proud man and if he feels he can no longer perform at his best, he won’t want to continue. His current speeds of 125-130 km/h contrast sharply with his past fiery spells.”
Earlier this year, Rohit Sharma retired from Tests and Virat Kohli stepped away from white-ball cricket, leaving India’s squad depleted. Kaif suggests fans will need to adjust to watching Test cricket without Bumrah as well, despite the pacer’s evident passion and dedication.
“His fitness is failing and that’s reflected in his effectiveness on the field,” Kaif added. “Difficult times lie ahead for Bumrah and Indian cricket must prepare for a future without him in Tests.