Jasprit Bumrah: The Don Bradman of Bowling, Says Adam Gilchrist
In the electrifying arena of IPL 2025, one name stands out as a beacon of brilliance: Jasprit Bumrah. The Mumbai Indians’ pace maestro has redefined fast bowling with an astonishing economy rate of 6.96, forcing opposing teams to adopt defensive strategies against his unrelenting attack. Since returning from a back injury that sidelined him for four matches, Bumrah has been the linchpin of Mumbai Indians’ resurgence, steering them to victory in six out of seven games. His ability to deliver nearly 10 dot balls per match has drawn a breathtaking comparison from Australian legend Adam Gilchrist, who likens him to the iconic Don Bradman.
Bumrah’s raw numbers in IPL 2025 paint a picture of sheer dominance. Across seven matches, he has bowled 69 balls with pinpoint accuracy, outshining peers with his miserly economy rate. While bowlers like Khaleel Ahmed and Josh Hazlewood boast impressive dot ball percentages, their runs conceded hover above 8 per over. In stark contrast, Bumrah’s economy remains under 7, underscoring his unmatched control. After early hiccups—going wicketless against Royal Challengers Bangalore and leaking 44 runs against Delhi Capitals—he roared back with devastating performances against Lucknow Super Giants and Rajasthan Royals, snaring six wickets for a mere 37 runs in 8 overs.
Speaking on Cricbuzz, Gilchrist didn’t hold back in his praise, stating, ‘He’s maybe the best fast bowler of all time. When you stack up the statistics and the varying conditions he executes his skills in, you look at Sir Donald Bradman’s numbers compared to his peers—he’s so far ahead. Bumrah is in that category across all formats and conditions. He’s significantly ahead of his peers, and that tells us we are truly watching greatness.’ The comparison to Bradman, who retired with a Test batting average of nearly 100—a figure unmatched by any other batter with over 10 Tests (the next best being around 65)—speaks volumes about Bumrah’s extraordinary impact.
Bumrah’s wizardry isn’t limited to the IPL. In the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy, despite India’s disappointing 1-3 series loss, he emerged as the highest wicket-taker with a staggering 32 wickets at an average of just 13. Gilchrist, reflecting on this, noted, ‘A seamer from India, consistently throughout, particularly in the Australian summer series—no, I don’t think Australians have ever been as intimidated by an Indian bowler as they are by Bumrah.’ He added, ‘Commentating on that series, we sat in awe. He’s the best all-format bowler; there’s nothing to argue there.’
Closer to home, former India spinner Dinesh Karthik echoed similar sentiments, calling Bumrah a ‘national treasure’. Karthik elaborated, ‘For anyone who follows cricket and wants India to do well, during the BGT, we all wished he could bowl from both ends. He acclimatizes to any pitch quickly. Many bowlers have a fixed length, but Bumrah bowls what the surface demands—that’s his greatness. His odd action, paired with incredible skill and a sharp brain, makes him exceptional.’
As the IPL 2025 season progresses, Bumrah continues to shatter records and redefine expectations. With pace, precision, and adaptability, he has cemented his status as a generational talent. Much like Don Bradman dominated batting, Jasprit Bumrah is scripting a legacy as the undisputed titan of bowling. Are we witnessing the greatest fast bowler of all time? The numbers—and the awe of legends like Gilchrist—seem to suggest so.