Jasprit Bumrah 'the best fast bowler there's ever been', says Steve Finn as India suffer 'humongous' injury blow
By Flo Clifford
Updated 12/02/2025 at 11:42 GMT
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Jasprit Bumrah's withdrawal from the India Champions Trophy squad is a "humongous" blow to the side, TNT Sports pundit Steve Finn has argued, calling the pace bowler "the best fast bowler there's ever been". Bumrah was ruled out of the squad with a lower back injury sustained during the recent Test series in Australia, where he played a starring role for the tourists despite their defeat.
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TNT Sports pundit Steve Finn has weighed in on one of cricket's GOAT debates, arguing India's Jasprit Bumrah is "the best fast bowler there's ever been".
India have suffered a blow ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy, with Bumrah ruled out of the side due to a lower back injury.
The 31-year-old shone for India in their recent Test series against Australia but sustained the injury while on the tour and has not recovered in time to be included in the Champions Trophy squad, with Finn calling it a "humongous" loss.
"It's probably not hyperbole to suggest that he's the best fast bowler there's ever been," he said. "That transcends across formats.
"His numbers are remarkable, not just the numbers, but his ability to affect really important moments in games."
Bumrah was named ICC Cricketer of the Year for his performances across formats in 2024, including playing a starring role in their T20 World Cup victory, and carried that form into early 2025.
The pace spearhead was the highest wicket-taker in their Test series against Australia, which the tourists lost 3-1 despite his heroics.
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Discussing his claim to be the best fast bowler, Finn cited that T20 World Cup final, adding: "He won that T20 World Cup for India, taking the wicket of [Marco] Jansen when it looked like South Africa were going to win. Throw Bumrah the ball and he takes the important wicket.
"He was the only bowler who carried the team in Australia recently, player of the series on the losing side. He's remarkable.
"That Test average, 19.4, 205 wickets, 45 games, T20 economy rate of 6.27 - it's just silly stuff. It's pure fantasy for most bowlers, but he delivers every single time. So coming into a world tournament, he's a humongous miss."
Fellow TNT Sports pundit Matt Prior added: "Whether you're in a losing position, give him the ball, he'll get you back in the game, of course he can finish games off.
"It's also the amount of different roles he plays across all formats. He can be that strike bowler at the front, he can bowl you overs in the middle, and of course at the death, his economy numbers show you he doesn't get hit for many, so a huge, huge loss for India."
India will play all of their Champions Trophy matches in Dubai after refusing to travel to Pakistan, who will host the rest of the tournament. Their first match will be against Bangladesh on February 20 before they later face Pakistan and New Zealand in Group A.
Harshit Rana has been named as Bumrah's replacement in the squad.
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