Jasprit Bumrah for Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2020
These players have found ways to score freely against him, making even a world-class bowler like Bumrah look ordinary at times. Here’s a look at the top 5 batsmen who have caused the most trouble for Jasprit Bumrah in the IPL over the years.
When the battle is between the best batsman of the generation and the finest bowler of the era, things are bound to be intense. That’s exactly what happens every time Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah face off in the Indian Premier League. Their rivalry has been one of the most talked-about contests in IPL history, showcasing high-quality cricket and fierce competition. Interestingly, their very first meeting in the IPL set the tone for this thrilling rivalry. In Bumrah’s debut over back in 2013, a young Kohli struck him for three consecutive boundaries, making an aggressive statement.
However, Bumrah had the perfect reply. On the fourth ball of the same over, he dismissed Kohli, claiming the then-RCB captain as his first-ever wicket in the IPL. Since then, they have met several times across different seasons, with both having their moments. Kohli has faced Bumrah in 17 innings, scoring a total of 150 runs off 101 balls. He has hit 15 fours and 6 sixes against Bumrah, maintaining a strike rate of 148.51, which shows how effectively he’s handled one of the toughest bowlers in the format.
Kohli has played 37 dot balls, taken 34 singles, 7 twos, and even managed to run 2 triples, showing smart intent between the wickets. Despite Kohli’s strong numbers, Bumrah has had his share of wins too. He has dismissed Kohli 5 times, bringing down Kohli’s average to 30.00 against him. The economy rate stands at 8.91, a decent figure considering Kohli’s attacking nature.
The second Indian batsman who has been quietly ruling the charts against Jasprit Bumrah is none other than KL Rahul. Known for his calm approach and elegant strokeplay, Rahul has shown remarkable control and class while facing one of the most feared bowlers in the IPL. In a tournament where Bumrah has troubled the best, Rahul has managed to stand out as someone who has consistently tackled him with maturity and patience. Across 14 IPL innings against Bumrah, Rahul has scored a total of 146 runs from 118 balls.
What’s impressive is his ability to avoid getting out, Bumrah has dismissed him only twice, giving Rahul a strong average of 73.00 in this head-to-head battle. Although Rahul’s strike rate stands at 123.72, slightly on the lower side compared to some others, as it reflects his strategy of playing Bumrah with caution and choosing the right moments to attack. Rahul has played 47 dot balls against Bumrah, showing respect to Bumrah’s tight lines.
But at the same time, he’s kept the scoreboard ticking with 38 singles, 16 doubles, and 13 boundaries, along with 4 sixes. He hasn’t taken any unnecessary risks, focusing instead on building his innings smartly, which explains the high average and low number of dismissals. His approach against Bumrah is a fine example of playing top-quality bowling with a clear game plan, minimizing risks, taking ones and twos, and capitalizing on rare loose deliveries.
The overseas batsman who has ruled the IPL tournament with his fearless and innovative batting is also one of the very few who has managed to dominate Jasprit Bumrah, and that’s none other than AB de Villiers. The South African superstar, known for his 360-degree strokeplay and ability to read bowlers quickly, has stood tall even against Bumrah, arguably the toughest bowler in the tournament’s history. In 13 innings where de Villiers has faced Bumrah, he has scored 125 runs from just 85 balls, maintaining an impressive strike rate of 147.05.
His ability to take on Bumrah with calculated aggression is clearly reflected in these numbers. While he has respected the good deliveries, he hasn’t hesitated to punish anything slightly off-target. De Villiers has smashed 9 fours and 8 sixes against Bumrah, showcasing his fearless intent and excellent shot selection. Though Bumrah has managed to dismiss him three times, AB’s average still stands at a solid 41.66 in this matchup.
He’s played 34 dot balls but made sure to keep the scoreboard moving with 28 singles, 5 doubles, and even a rare three-run effort. His scoring rate of 8.82 runs per over against Bumrah shows that he’s not only survived but thrived in their battles. What makes AB de Villiers’ success against Bumrah even more special is the context, facing a bowler of Bumrah’s calibre in pressure situations and still maintaining control and aggression.
When it comes to facing the toughest bowlers in the IPL, one name that always stands out is Shikhar Dhawan. A veteran of the league and one of its most consistent performers, Dhawan has shown his class time and again, even against the likes of Jasprit Bumrah. While Bumrah is known for troubling the best in the business, Dhawan has quietly built an impressive record against him over the years. In 13 IPL innings where Dhawan has faced Bumrah, he has scored 105 runs from 87 balls.
What truly stands out is that Bumrah has dismissed Dhawan only once in all these encounters, giving Dhawan a phenomenal average of 105.00 in this particular match-up. This stat alone highlights how well Dhawan has handled Bumrah’s pace, yorkers, and sharp variations. Dhawan’s approach has been calm and composed. He has played 34 dot balls but ensured he rotates the strike consistently, picking up 34 singles, 3 twos, and even a three.
His boundary count is solid too, as 14 fours and a six, which shows that while he might not go all-out attacking, he knows how to find the gaps and keep the pressure on. With a strike rate of 120.68 and a scoring rate of 7.24 runs per over against Bumrah, Dhawan has shown that even the most challenging bowlers can be tackled with patience and timing.
Another star of the IPL who has always stepped up when given the chance to perform against the best in the world is Manish Pandey. Known for his ability to adapt to different situations and play impactful knocks, Pandey has quietly built an impressive record against Jasprit Bumrah, one of the most difficult bowlers to face in the tournament. In 11 IPL innings against Bumrah, Pandey has scored 80 runs off just 42 deliveries, boasting a staggering strike rate of 190.47.
What’s even more impressive is that Bumrah has never managed to dismiss him in all their encounters. This record underlines Pandey’s confident and calculated approach when taking on a world-class bowler like Bumrah. Pandey’s innings against Bumrah are a mix of intent and clean hitting. He has played just 6 dot balls, which shows how well he has handled pressure and kept the scoreboard ticking.
He’s picked up 20 singles and 4 doubles, making sure to rotate strike smartly. But where he’s really stood out is in boundary-hitting, smashing 10 fours and 2 sixes with ease, often disrupting Bumrah’s rhythm with timely aggression. With a scoring rate of 11.42 runs per over against Bumrah, Pandey has shown fearlessness and clarity in his shot selection. He doesn’t hesitate to attack, but he does so with a clear plan, targeting the right balls and avoiding unnecessary risks against him.