In cricket, numbers are often the bedrock of debates, but sometimes, they can spark confusion rather than clarity. One such statistical anomaly was brought to light recently: India seems to win more Test matches without Jasprit Bumrah than with him.
At first glance, the claim sounds absurd. Bumrah is arguably the best fast bowler India has ever produced, especially overseas. So when someone points out that in 2025 alone, India has not won a single match with Bumrah in the XI—but remained unbeaten in 18 games without him—it grabs attention. India has won all of its last 10 matches without Bumrah. But in contrast, in the last 10 Tests with Bumrah, we’ve won just one.
Yes, it's true that in this England series, the 2 Tests Bumrah played were the ones India lost—but in both of those matches, he took 5-wicket hauls. So clearly, we didn’t lose because of him. Secondly, among those 10 wins without Bumrah, 5 were Champions Trophy ODIs, which he missed due to injury.
Let's stick to just Tests. In India’s last 10 matches in whites without Bumrah, the team has lost just three. Meanwhile, in their last 10 Tests with Bumrah, India has managed just one victory and suffered 7 defeats.
So, is Bumrah the problem? Absolutely not.
These numbers, while factually correct, are highly misleading. Context is everything. The majority of those 7 wins without Bumrah came against weaker oppositions - 2 against the West Indies and 2 against Bangladesh. Bumrah was strategically rested for these games, in line with India’s workload management policy. On the other hand, when India plays high-stakes away series in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia), Bumrah is front and centre, facing tougher conditions and stronger batting line-ups.
The final takeaway? Bumrah is a once-in-a-generation talent whose impact can't be measured by wins and losses alone. He remains India’s most
successful fast bowler in SENA Tests and often shoulders the burden of leading the attack in the toughest conditions.
Sometimes, numbers don’t just lie—they distract. And Jasprit Bumrah is the kind of player whose greatness goes beyond the scoreboard.
