Watch: Rashid Khan picks Bumrah over Kohli and ABD as greatest T20 player

Rashid Khan has named Jasprit Bumrah as the greatest T20 player of all time and the cricket world cannot stop talking about it. The Afghan leg-spinner, who tops the list of players with the most wickets in T20 cricket, chose Bumrah over some of the biggest names in the shortest format, including Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.

The choice came in a this-or-that game posted by Cricinfo on X, where Rashid Khan was asked to pick between two players across multiple rounds. After filtering out legends like Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard, Rashid eventually came down to two finalists, AB de Villiers and Jasprit Bumrah. His final answer? Bumrah. “Bumrah is unbelievable,” said Rashid, as he settled the debate in the most unexpected way.

Rashid Khan picks Jasprit Bumrah over Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers: Here is why

The Afghan spinner picks Bumrah may have surprised many, but the logic behind it becomes clear when you look at how the game unfolded. In the first round, Rashid chose himself over Sunil Narine, picked AB de Villiers over Andre Russell, went with Virat Kohli over Chris Gayle and selected Bumrah over Kieron Pollard.

In the semi-final round, Rashid was asked to choose between himself and AB de Villiers and he went with the former South African captain. When the choice came between Virat Kohli and his India teammate Jasprit Bumrah, Rashid chose the fast bowler without much hesitation. It was a significant moment, Rashid Khan not only picked Bumrah over Kohli but also set up a final between two very different match-winners.

In the final round, Rashid Khan's greatest T20 player verdict came down to AB de Villiers vs Jasprit Bumrah. Despite de Villiers being one of the most explosive batters the game has ever seen and someone who recently produced a stunning 37-ball hundred in the WCL 2026 Rashid still chose Bumrah. For Rashid, the Indian pacer’s ability to win matches single-handedly with the ball in the most pressure-filled moments made him the greatest T20 player ever.

Watch the video of Rashid Khan choosing Jasprit Bumrah over Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers here—

The Jasprit Bumrah greatest T20 player verdict from a fellow legend like Rashid Khan carries enormous weight. Bumrah is a two-time T20 World Cup winner, has won five IPL titles with Mumbai Indians and was named ICC Player of the Year in 2024. For Rashid, those numbers and those moments under pressure told the whole story.

Jasprit Bumrah’s T20 heroics: Why he is the most feared bowler in the shortest format

Bumrah T20 heroics have been nothing short of legendary. In the T20 World Cup 2024 final, Bumrah conceded just six runs across the 16th and 18th overs while defending 176 against South Africa, two overs that turned the match completely in India’s favor. Across the entire tournament, he picked up 15 wickets at an economy rate of just 4.17, winning the Player of the Tournament award in the process.

His record in the IPL tells the same story. Playing for Mumbai Indians in the 2019 final against Chennai Super Kings, Bumrah bowled a powerplay over giving away only five runs and removed Ambati Rayudu at a critical stage. That performance helped MI win by one run in one of the most thrilling IPL finals in history. In the 2026 T20 World Cup final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, he took four wickets against New Zealand to win the Player of the Match award as India defended their title.

Even in the highest-pressure matches on the world stage, Bumrah has delivered. In the 2024 T20 World Cup group-stage match against Pakistan, he choked a low-scoring chase on a tricky pitch, striking at crucial intervals to swing the momentum entirely in India’s favour. He also helped India win the Asian Games 2026 gold medal against Pakistan before being rested for the ongoing T20I series against West Indies. With numbers, titles and match-winning moments that speak for themselves, it is no surprise that Rashid Khan chose Bumrah as the greatest T20 player ever.