Chasing 228 runs, Gujarat Titans had scored 148 for 2 in 13 overs. Sai Sudarshan and Washington Sundar were leading the charge, maintaining a run rate of over 11 runs per over. Their partnership had already added 81 runs, putting Mumbai Indians supporters on edge.
But suddenly, the atmosphere in the stands shifted. Jasprit Bumrah took the ball and with a brilliant yorker, broke the Sudarshan-Sundar partnership and turned the game around. From that point on, Gujarat Titans couldn’t recover. Mumbai Indians chased down the remaining 20 runs to win the match and secure a place in the IPL’s second qualifier.
In yesterday’s match in Chandigarh, Bumrah’s impact wasn’t limited to just that one over—he had already been instrumental in bringing Mumbai back into the game with crucial wickets and tight bowling. After the match, a former Indian cricketer praised Bumrah, saying,
“He’s like an antidote, a kind of vaccine that can cure any bowling team’s ailments.”
In the high-scoring eliminator between Gujarat and Mumbai, both teams piled up over 400 runs combined—436 in total. Amid this run-fest, Bumrah bowled four overs conceding only 27 runs and taking one wicket. He gave away just 4 runs in the second over of the innings and 11 runs in the final over of the powerplay.
He was brought back when Gujarat was close to the target—148 runs in 13 overs. In the 14th over, Bumrah bowled a stunning yorker to dismiss Washington Sundar, breaking his 84-run partnership with Sudarshan. Gujarat managed only 4 runs off that over. With 33 runs needed off the last two overs, Bumrah gave away just 9 runs, effectively sealing the game.
Despite the match’s overall run rate being 11.20 per over, Bumrah’s economy was a miserly 6.75 runs per over. Such a stellar performance drew widespread praise. As commentator Aakash Chopra said,
“He’s a Brahmastra, a genius. There’s no bowler like him. The creator didn’t make anyone else like him.”
After the match, Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya said,
“Whenever the match seems to be slipping away, I bring Bumrah into the attack. His overs are as valuable as Mumbai’s real estate.”
Adding to the chorus of praise, former cricketer Varun Aaron said during a Cricinfo timeout,
“If you need a wicket, he’ll get it. If you need to stop runs, he’ll stop them for you. What a fantastic bowler.”
Comparing Bumrah to a vaccine, Aaron added,
“He’s a kind of vaccine that can cure any ailment of a bowling unit.”
Former Australian cricketer and coach Tom Moody highlighted Bumrah’s effectiveness in T20s, saying,
“While it’s not impossible to score more off his overs, it’s extremely difficult. In a 20-over match, the opposition essentially plays 16 overs against his team.”
Having defeated Gujarat to reach the second qualifier, Bumrah’s Mumbai Indians will face Punjab Kings tomorrow for a place in the final. Royal Challengers Bangalore have already booked their spot in the June 3 final.
