Jasprit Bumrah once again rose to the occasion when it mattered most. In a high-stakes IPL 2025 Eliminator match, the Mumbai Indians pacer delivered a game-changing performance against Gujarat Titans, helping his team win by 20 runs.
Despite Gujarat’s aggressive start, with Sai Sudharsan and Washington Sundar attacking fiercely, Bumrah stayed calm. In his third over, he clean-bowled Sundar with a deadly yorker. The ball struck Sundar’s leg stump, leaving him sprawled on the ground, unable to connect.
This breakthrough shifted the game’s momentum. After Sundar’s dismissal, Mumbai Indians tightened their grip and eventually sealed victory. Bumrah finished with remarkable figures—4 overs, 27 runs, and a crucial wicket.
“Bumrah Is Like an Antidote”: Varun Aaron
Former Indian pacer Varun Aaron praised Bumrah on ESPNcricinfo, calling him the ultimate problem-solver for any bowling attack. “He’s like an antidote, a vaccine that can cure any illness, which a bowling side can have. If you want wickets, he comes and gets you wickets. If you want to stop runs, he stops runs for you. Man, what a bowler,” Aaron said.
He also recalled a key moment during the match. As Gujarat batters were piling on runs, Mumbai’s head coach Mahela Jayawardene appeared concerned and tried to speak to Bumrah. But Bumrah seemed unfazed. According to Aaron, “And the belief he has in his ability. You have an international coach Mahela Jayawardene, who is obviously panicking because his bowlers have suddenly started to go to the cleaners, and he just turns around and is like ‘just calm down, I’ll do the job for you’. Comes in, runs in, gets hit for a six and then gets that ball.”
A Key Figure in MI’s Comeback
Bumrah’s return to the squad this season transformed Mumbai Indians. Before he rejoined, the team was on a losing streak. But with him back in action, they bounced back with six consecutive wins.
So far in IPL 2025, Bumrah has taken 18 wickets. His consistency has powered Mumbai Indians into Qualifier 2, where they will face Punjab Kings for a place in the final.
The Yorker That Changed the Game
Aaron highlighted the difficulty of Bumrah’s delivery that dismissed Sundar. “For him to bowl from that angle is really difficult. It’s easier for him to go wide to a left-hand batter but for him to actually target that leg stump of Washington Sundar.” He added, “Washy was setting up for something wide or something in his arc, but that was just impossible to negotiate.”
