Craddock: Is Bumrah the Bradman of bowling?

India won back-to-back T20 World Cups defeating New Zealand by 96 runs in front of a packed Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Monday morning (AEST).

Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the bowlers for the home side, taking a miserly 4/15 runs in his 4 overs which paved the way for India’s defence as they bowled New Zealand out for 159.

Legendary sport journalist and cricket commentator Robert ‘Crash’ Craddock joined SEN Whateley following the match to express his admiration for Bumrah’s performance.

“I loved watching Jasprit Bumrah in the Final,” Craddock said.

“I mean, he bowled three middle order players with slower balls and yorkers, it was just artistry.”

But it’s Bumrah’s Test figures that has gained Craddock’s attention and has provoked the question as to whether he should now be considered amongst the greats of the sport.

“Jasprit Bumrah has now played 52 Tests,” Craddock said.

“That's the same number as Sir Don Bradman.

“And, you know, is he the Bradman of bowling?”

In his last Test series in Australia across the summer of 2024/25, Bumrah was the clear standout for India taking 32 wickets and averaging 13.06 with the ball.

Bumrah’s unique bowling style and his ability to move the ball both ways has proved a challenge for batsmen across the globe.

But Craddock isn’t ready to put Bumrah on the same level as Bradman just yet.

“I can't quite put him that high, but I've gotta say this, (he’s) a bowler who's based in India and he's a fast bowler who’s Test bowling average is 19.8 per wicket.

"And I'm listening to these debates of Stuart Broad and Dale Steyn, the best fast bowler of the last 25 years, saying, 'Gosh, how good is he (Bumrah), is he the best?'.

"I mean, Dale Steyn's asking that.”

At 32 years old, there are still many years left for Bumrah should he remain injury free which could see him elevated into that legendary status alongside the likes of Shane Warne, Sachin Tendulkar, Imran Khan and of course Sir Don Bradman.

“Even Wasim Akram, who I reckon is the second best bowler of all time, after Malcolm Marshall, he said, 'Oh, there's areas where he's just better than me', so I think by the time he retires we will have a case to say that Bumrah is the best fast bowler of all time,” Craddock said.

“And people who challenge you, you sit back with your stats and … you can say, well, he's playing his home Tests in India for God's sake, and he's averaging 19.8.

“He doesn't even have to improve. If he maintains that average, you've got almost an unbreachable argument.”

Bumrah is set to feature next for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL which begins on March 28 before India return to Test cricket for a one-off match against Afghanistan in June.