Who is the best bowler in the world currently?
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’s been well over a century since cricket has been at play, picking up a significant fan following and the regard of being one of the most popular sports in the world. However, the debate about how cricket as a sport traditionally favors the batter has raged on for a long time. From overstepping restrictions to wides to bouncer limitations, a bowler has to be mindful of many things when he takes the run-up for a delivery. However, despite these limitations, it is a well-known fact that a bowler has the potential to turn the game on its head with one fiery spell. One spell from a lethal bowler can leave the batting order in tatters. Cricket, over the years, has witnessed many bowlers staging historic destruction with their spells. The likes of Malcolm Marshall to Joel Garner, whenever the debate about the best bowler in the world crops up, their names take the top ranks.
Now, at the turn of a new era in the game, many more names have scripted wonders to hold their own unique place somewhere in the list featuring the world's best bowler. While the likes of Imran Khan, Muttiah Muralitharan, Shoaib Akhtar, Shane Warne, and Brett Lee spread their charm over decades, a turn in the page of the history books has brought the fans in the era where they are witnessing the peaks of sensational bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin. Seeing Bumrah specifically feels like being part of a history that would be gawked at in wonder by future generations.
Why is Jasprit Bumrah regarded as the best bowler in the world in modern times?
Jasprit Bumrah, who debuted for India back in 2016, did not take even a decade to emerge as a legendary pacer in the world. ‘Unplayable’ is the word to best describe Bumrah’s deliveries. The seamer, who has clocked speeds of 150 kph, is an integral part of the Indian team across formats. Be it the shortest format, requiring bowlers to keep aggressive run-scoring in check, or Tests, where tenacious long spells test a bowler’s patience and grit, Bumrah has excelled in them all. Over the years, Bumrah has established himself as a guaranteed match-winner for India.
To gauge the greatness on display for the current audience, Jasprit Bumrah has recorded the best bowling average in Test cricket in 110 years. The seamer, who is currently leading the Indian team as an interim captain in the opening Border Gavaskar Trophy Test against Australia, averages 20.20. With 177 wickets in 41 red-ball matches, Bumrah has surpassed historic heroes like Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner, and Alan Davidson in the list of bowlers with the lowest bowling averages in Tests. Only England’s Sydney Barnes, with an average of 16.43, remains ahead of Bumrah.
In his most recent display of brilliance, Jasprit Bumrah redeemed India on the opening day of the Perth Test with a fiery four-wicket spell against the Kangaroos. Juggling his captaincy duties in the all-important series, Bumrah initiated a collapse within the Australian batting order as he claimed openers Nathan McSweeney and Usman Khawaja in quick succession. The seamer then stunned Steve Smith, trapping the Fab Four batter LBW to send him packing for a golden duck. Bumrah returned at the end of the day to dismiss Australian skipper Pat Cummins, leaving Australia reeling at a meager 67 for 7 at stumps on Day 1.
The brilliance of Jasprit Bumrah once again took center stage as Wasim Akram, a legend with the ball himself, exclaimed “the best bowler in the world” from the commentary box as he witnessed the carnage of Australia at the hands of Bumrah. The 31-year-old speedster is unarguably the best bowler in the world currently. If not for the current scenario, Bumrah would have faced stiff competition from James Anderson for the title. The English pacer showcased the best case of longevity as he became the pacer with the most wickets in Tests at the age of 41. Anderson, in his career spanning over two decades, scalped a mind-boggling 704 wickets in 188 red-ball matches. However, with Anderson announcing his retirement earlier this year, Jasprit Bumrah has claimed the title of the best bowler in the world today.