Waqar Younis says Bumrah still has to prove himself in Tests despite white‑ball brilliance

Summary: Former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis has hailed Jasprit Bumrah as the standout modern bowler in limited‑overs cricket, but believes the Indian fast bowler has not yet established himself at the highest level in Test cricket.

Waqar’s Assessment

• White‑ball dominance: Waqar, speaking on the Shubhankar Mishra podcast, called Bumrah “the only modern‑day bowler of the same calibre as the white ball” and praised his knack for delivering in crunch situations.
• Test doubts: He argued that Bumrah’s limited red‑ball exposure prevents him from being ranked among the elite fast bowlers in Tests. Waqar pointed to rivals such as Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and several English bowlers as examples of players who have played more Test cricket.
• Numbers quoted: Bumrah has taken 234 wickets in 52 Tests (average 19. 7, strike rate 42.8). He is the fastest Indian to 50 Test wickets (11 matches) and the third Indian to achieve a Test hat‑trick (2019). In the 2024‑25 Border‑Gavaskar Trophy he recorded 32 wickets, a series record.

Bumrah’s Test credentials (Confirmed)

• Career milestones: 100th Test wicket in 24 matches; 51 wickets in 11 Tests in England; 373 wickets for Waqar in his own Test career.
• Awards: ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year 2024.
• Current status: Injuries and workload management have curtailed his Test appearances in 2025. He is slated to return for India’s two‑match series in New Zealand next month, with the World Test Championship final on the horizon.

White‑ball dominance (Reported)

• Impact in high‑pressure moments: Waqar recalled Bumrah’s decisive spell in India’s six‑run victory over Pakistan at the 2024 T20 World Cup in New York. Pakistan was at 80/3 after 14 overs, needing 40 runs from six overs. Bumrah dismissed Mohammad Rizwan, triggering a collapse that helped India defend the target.
• Captain’s reliance: “Whenever an India captain is in trouble, he always gives the ball to Bumrah,” Waqar noted, highlighting the bowler’s reputation as an “impact player” who can motivate the entire team.

Impact in crucial moments (Confirmed)

• Performance under pressure: Bumrah’s ability to produce breakthroughs when the stakes are highest is cited as his greatest strength in ODIs and T20Is.
• Match‑winning contributions: The New York over is described as the turning point of the game, illustrating why captains trust him in the final overs.

Future outlook (Unknown/Speculative)

• Test future: Whether Bumrah’s upcoming New Zealand series will be enough to satisfy Waqar’s Test‑criteria remains uncertain. His participation will also depend on injury clearance and India’s selection plans for the World Test Championship final.
• Comparison with peers: The debate over Bumrah’s Test standing versus other leading fast bowlers will likely continue until he accumulates comparable red‑ball experience.

How to verify: The statements originate from Waqar Younis’s interview on the Shubhankar Mishra podcast, as reported by the Times of India. Readers can locate the original podcast episode and cross‑check the quoted statistics against official cricket archives.

Keywords: Waqar Younis, Jasprit Bumrah, white-ball cricket, Test cricket, ICC Men's Test Cricketer of the Year, 2024 T20 World Cup, India-Pakistan match, Bumrah hat-trick, Border-Gavaskar Trophy