Jasprit Bumrah in London ODI against England, 2022 (Source: AFP)
Apart from leaving a significant impact in the Tests, the star pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been a backbone of the Indian cricket team in the ODIs. He has been one of the go-to bowlers for India whenever the team has fallen into the crisis in the 50-over format, be it in the bilateral assignments or in the ICC tournaments.
Jasprit Bumrah is the second leading wicket-taker for India in the ODIs since his debut in 2016. He has scalped 149 wickets, with six four-wicket hauls and two five-wicket hauls in 88 innings of the 89 ODIs he has played for India so far, following Kuldeep Yadav, who has picked 193 wickets in 116 innings.
Apart from that, he is the leading wicket-taker among pacers in ODIs for India since his ODI debut, followed by Mohammed Shami’s 119 wickets in 61 innings. Therefore, here’s a look at Jasprit Bumrah’s five best spells in ODIs.
Jasprit Bumrah's five best spells in ODIs
6/19 vs England - London ODI, 2022
In 2022, India and England were taking on each other in the first ODI of the three-match series in England. The then-India skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and asked the hosts to bat first at the Oval in London. The English batting attack failed miserably to survive against Jasprit Bumrah.
Bumrah ran through the English batting lineup and picked six wickets for just 19 runs in his 7.2 overs, with an outstanding economy rate of 2.59, including three maiden overs. On the back of Bumrah’s game-changing five-wicket haul, India bundled England for 110 runs in 25.2 overs.
While chasing the target, India’s opening pair of skipper Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan stitched an unbeaten partnership of 114 runs in 18.4 overs to win the game for India by 10 wickets. Bumrah ended up winning the ‘Player of the Match’ award for delivering his ODI career’s best ODI spell.
5/27 vs Sri Lanka - Pallekele ODI, 2017
India were taking on Sri Lanka in the third ODI of the five-match series in 2017, at the Pallekele International Stadium. The then-hosts’ skipper Chamara Kapugedera won the toss and opted to bat first. Furthermore, Jasprit Bumrah single-handedly led the Indian bowling attack with an impressive five-wicket haul.
He scalped five wickets for just 27 runs, with an unbelievable economy rate of 2.70, including two overs. Bumrah’s fifer restricted the Islanders to the score of 217 runs for the loss of nine wickets in the entire 50 overs. While chasing the target, the visitors comfortably crossed the line in 45.1 overs, scoring 218 runs for the loss of four wickets courtesy of Rohit Sharma’s brilliant century (124 runs off 145 balls).
Eventually, the Men in Blue won the game by six wickets, and Jasprit Bumrah won the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his outstanding fifer to help India take an unassailable lead.
4/35 vs West Indies - Pune ODI, 2018
After a thrilling tie in the second ODI, India and the West Indies faced each other in the third ODI of the three-match series in 2018. India won the toss and asked the Caribbean side to bat first in Pune. The visitors posted a total of 283 runs for the loss of nine wickets in the allotted 50 overs.
Meanwhile, it was Jasprit Bumrah who shone for India with the ball, amidst all other bowlers going expensive. He scalped four wickets for just 35 runs in his 10 overs, including a maiden over. However, India lost this game and Kohli’s century (107), following Bumrah’s bowling brilliance, went in vain; they were bundled out at 240 runs while chasing the target of 284 runs.
4/22 against Zimbabwe - Harare ODI, 2016
Within six months after his ODI debut in 2016, Jasprit Bumrah was a part of the Indian squad that toured Zimbabwe for a three-match ODI series and a three-match T20I series. After taking an unassailable lead of 2-0 with an eight-wicket win in the second ODI, the visitors faced Zimbabwe in the third and last ODI of the three-match series in Harare.
The then-hosts’ skipper Graeme Cremer won the toss and decided to bat first before Jasprit Bumrah dismantled their batting attack. The key Indian pacer claimed four wickets for just 22 runs in his quota of 10 overs, with an outstanding economy rate of 2.20, including a maiden over. His performance helped India bundle out Zimbabwe at the score of just 123 runs in 42.2 overs.
While chasing the target, India’s opening pair of KL Rahul (63) and Faiz Fazal (55) stitched an unbeaten, match-winning opening partnership of 126 runs in 21.5 overs to win the game for their side by a massive margin of 10 wickets.
4/55 vs Bangladesh - Birmingham ODI, 2019
India was taking on Bangladesh in the 40th match of the 2019 ODI World Cup. The India skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and opted to bat first. The opening pair of KL Rahul (77) and Rohit Sharma (104) stitched a memorable opening partnership of 180 runs. Their collaboration helped the Men in Blue post 314 runs for the loss of nine wickets in the allotted 50 overs.
While defending the 314-run total, it was Jasprit Bumrah who led the charge of India’s bowling attack. He scalped four wickets for 55 runs in 10 overs, with a decent economy rate of 5.50, including a maiden over. Bumrah’s four-wicket haul, accompanied by Hardik Pandya’s 3/60, played a central role in bundling out Bangladesh at the score of 286 runs in 48 overs.
Eventually, India won the game by 28 runs to register their sixth win in the tournament’s group stage, before making it to the semi-finals.
