Watch: “No Legal Action” – Pakistan chief selector makes controversial statement on Jasprit Bumrah ahead of IPL 2026

Pakistan chief selector Aaqib Javed has sparked a big debate on social media. Javed praised India’s Jasprit Bumrah as one of the hardest bowlers to face in the modern era. He said that Bumrah is “not a normal bowler” and has a unique action.

Speaking at a press conference with Sarfaraz Ahmed and Asad Shafiq, the former Pakistan fast bowler also compared Bumrah to Usman Tariq in terms of fast bowling.

“In today’s era, in this entire World Cup, there is only one bowler like Bumrah. He is different. He is not a normal bowler. Even his action is unusual,” Javed said during the press conference.

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Aaqib Javed Praises Jasprit Bumrah as ‘Different’

Pakistan chief selector Aaqib Javed praised India’s Jasprit Bumrah in a press conference. He said,

“Aaj ke daur mein pure world mein ek aisa bowler hai Jasprit Bumrah – usko bhi abhi maar padna shuru hui hai. He is different, na normal bowler ki tarah uska action hai. Woh fast bowlers ka Usman Tariq hai. Jis tarah woh aata hai, batsmen ka flow nahin banta hai na rhythm banne ko deta hai. (In today’s world, there is only one bowler like Jasprit Bumrah. Even he goes for runs sometimes. He is different. His action is not like that of a normal bowler. He is the Usman Tariq of fast bowlers. The way he bowls, batsmen cannot get into a rhythm or flow.)”

Bumrah, who debuted for Team India in 2016, has one of the most unusual bowling actions in cricket. Despite this, the right-arm fast bowler has troubled the best batters worldwide with his variations and clever bowling.

Currently, Bumrah is the No.1 ranked bowler in Tests with 879 rating points. While Pakistan’s Usman Tariq also has an unorthodox action, Javed’s comparison of Bumrah to Tariq drew attention because Bumrah is widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers of his era, while Tariq has played less than 20 international matches.

Tariq remains controversial, as his bowling action has been questioned twice. His pauses before delivery have also led players like Cameron Green to accuse him of chucking.

Meanwhile, Bumrah finished the T20 World Cup 2026 as the joint-leading wicket-taker with Varun Chakaravarthy. He took 14 wickets in eight innings, averaging 12.42. In the final against the New Zealand national cricket team at the Narendra Modi Stadium, he earned the Player of the Match award for his outstanding figures of 4-0-15-4.

Jasprit Bumrah's T20I and IPL Career So Far

Jasprit Bumrah is one of the most unique and successful fast bowlers in modern cricket. Since his debut in 2014, Bumrah has played 95 T20 Internationals and taken 121 wickets at an average of 18.08 and an economy rate of 6.51. He is known for his unusual and highly effective bowling action, which makes it very difficult for batsmen to read him. His ability to bowl accurate yorkers, slower balls, and bouncers consistently has made him a match-winner in many games.

In the Indian Premier League, Bumrah has represented the Mumbai Indians in 145 matches, claiming 183 wickets with an impressive economy rate of 7.24. His best figures in the IPL are 5 wickets for 10 runs, showing his ability to single-handedly change the course of a match.

Bumrah’s strength lies not only in pace but also in his control and variations. He can bowl in any phase of the game—powerplay, middle overs, or death overs—without losing accuracy. His calm temperament and clever use of line and length make him a nightmare for even the best international batsmen. With his combination of pace, precision, and unorthodox action, Bumrah continues to dominate T20 cricket and remains India’s leading fast-bowling weapon.

Bumrah will next play for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2026, which starts on March 28.