Pakistan’s fast bowler Ihsanullah has made a bold claim. He believes his teammate Naseem Shah is much better than India’s Jasprit Bumrah stating that Bumrah’s current performance doesn’t change that fact; the young pacer is superior.
Jasprit Bumrah is often regarded as the best fast bowler India has ever produced. Given his significant impact on the game, it’s fair to say he is currently one of the top bowlers in the world across all formats of cricket.
Bumrah’s effect on the game has been tremendous. He has been consistently effective in all three formats and has strengthened the Indian bowling attack, which is unusual for Indian cricket, where batting has traditionally been the stronger side.
One key reason India has started winning Tests outside its home ground is its ability to take all 20 wickets. Bumrah has played a major role in this success. In limited-overs cricket, too, his contributions have been vital, often pulling victories from difficult situations.
Bumrah has excelled on the big stage especially evident in recent ICC tournaments. He took 20 wickets in the ODI World Cup 2023 and showcased his best performance in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 earning the MVP title for his team and winning the Player of the Tournament award.
Despite both Bumrah and Naseem performing well Ihsanullah’s comments were striking. He emphasized that Naseem is a better bowler than Bumrah, regardless of their performances.
In a podcast, he stated, “If I compare Bumrah then Naseem Shah is a better bowler than Bumrah.”
When the host suggested that Bumrah has outperformed Naseem, Ihsanullah replied, “No, you are seeing that. Naseem Shah was also performing like this in the 2021 (2022) World Cup. It doesn’t matter if someone doesn’t perform too well in a year. Still, Naseem Shah is better than him.”
Naseem Shah is a talented newcomer from Pakistan’s lineage of great fast bowlers. In his brief career thus far, he has made a significant impact. His speed and ability to swing the new ball stand out, helping Pakistan secure wins in all formats.
