“Any team with Jasprit Bumrah in it is a better team” - Michael Clarke shuts down Bumrah’s critics amid workload management

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has stated that any team with Jasprit Bumrah in it would be a better team. His comments came right after the Indian pace spearhead faced trolls from the cricketing fraternity over his workload concerns. 

Notably, Bumrah could play only three out of five Tests on the England tour to manage his workload, which didn’t go down well with many. To make things more interesting, India went on to win two matches in which Bumrah didn’t take part on the tour.

Importantly, Bumrah, who scalped 32 wickets in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, suffered a back injury in the Sydney Test. Later, he missed the England series and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, only to make his comeback during IPL 2025.

While speaking on Beyond23 Cricket Podcast, Clarke heaped praise on the Indian bowling line-up, comprising Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krsihan and Akash Deep, for turning the tide towards their team in Bumrah’s absence. 

“To win the last match and level the series. Wow! Phenomenal, absolutely brilliant. And the other thing as well. In the two Test matches that India won, the best bowler in the world didn’t play in (Jasprit) Bumrah. Bumrah didn’t play the two Test matches that India won. So, to the other bowlers in the Indian squad, they deserve a lot of credit to be able to step up. And I do believe, and I don’t think anybody would say differently, any team with Bumrah in it is a better team. But to be able to win those two matches without him, that bowling attack deserves a lot of credit,” Clarke said on Beyond23 Cricket Podcast.

Siraj, who bowled 185.3 overs on the England tour scalped 23 wickets to emerge as the leading wicket-taker of the series. Clarke went on to praise the Indian seamer for his never give up attitude whenever Bumrah wasn’t around.

“India bowling again, Krishna, Siraj. Wow! I feel like every time Bumrah is not around, Siraj has this – ‘I’ve got to stand up’ mindset and attitude. He wants the ball when the team is under pressure. I feel like he’s a better bowler when there is more expectation and pressure put on his shoulders. I think he really enjoys that role in the team. Fifer in the second innings, just to keep it going,” Clarke added.

With England requiring only 35 runs to win the series on the fifth and final day of the Oval Test, Siraj scalped the wickets of Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton, and Gus Atkinson to propel India to a six-run win, which helped India to level the series 2-2.

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