Jasprit Bumrah is one of the best fast bowlers in the world. But a strange pattern has emerged in India’s Test cricket. India lose more Test matches when Bumrah plays compared to when he does not.
This goes against common cricket thinking. Usually, teams win more when their top players are playing. But with Bumrah, the opposite is true.
Since Bumrah’s Test debut in January 2018, India have played 74 Test matches. They have won 39 and lost 28. But the difference comes when we divide these matches into two groups: with Bumrah and without Bumrah.
India loses about 20% more matches when Bumrah plays. That means they lose nearly every second match with him, but only one in five without him.
The same trend shows in individual performances. When Bumrah is playing, bowlers like Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Siraj do not perform as well. Without Bumrah, these bowlers take more responsibility and do better.
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Proof of India’s Bumrah Paradox from the England Series
The 2025 Test series in England shows this clearly.
- In the 1st Test at Headingley, Bumrah took 5 wickets. But India still lost the match.
- In the 2nd Test at Edgbaston, Bumrah did not play. India won easily, and Akash Deep took 10 wickets.
- In the 3rd Test at Lord’s, Bumrah again took 5 wickets. But India lost again.
The only big change in these games was Bumrah’s presence.
Why is India Overdependent on Jasprit Bumrah?
When Bumrah plays, the team often depends too much on him. Other bowlers take a backseat. India also uses safer strategies, like picking extra batters. Experts say this over-dependence hurts the team. India needs to share the bowling responsibility better. Bumrah should still play, but not carry the full load alone.
This “Bumrah Paradox” teaches an important lesson: in team sports, teamwork can be stronger than one brilliant player. India’s success may depend on building a bowling unit where everyone contributes equally.
