There are performances and then there are performances. Jasprit Bumrah did the latter in the final of the tournament, returning figures of 4/15 in four overs to end New Zealand’s hopes of managing a mammoth run. It earned him the Man of the Match award and his captain had no choice but to gush.
Suryakumar Yadav was over the top while talking to the ICC. The bowler-winning man of the match for India had eluded the team all tournament until Bumrah stepped in at the biggest moment. “A bowler hasn’t won man of the match for India in this tournament and that was a perfect opportunity, a perfect game,” said Suryakumar. Then came the sentence that said it all: “Robot, a national treasure, Jasprit Bumrah raised his hand and did it time and time again for the team.”
Read the full article
The skipper was equally candid about the confidence the batting gave his bowlers. “Once we scored 250, 256, we always knew we had a bit of an edge with our bowling unit,” he said. “I know they can defend any total for me on any given day. Bumrah made him a prophet on this day.
A tournament built on consistency
Bumrah finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker with 14 wickets in 8 gamesmatching Varun Chakravarthy’s result, although Chakravarthy played one game more. It was a remarkable comeback in a grueling tournament and a reminder that Bumrah’s impact goes far beyond a single headline moment.
Game after game he found ways to get goals and control the scoring at crucial moments. His ability to bowl at any stage, on any pitch and in any conditions is what sets him apart from his peers. Suryakumar’s bowling unit thrived as a collective, but it was Bumrah who gave it the backbone.
The clutch is no accident
This was not a new scenario. In the previous year’s final in Barbados, Bumrah returned with 2/18 against South Africa and was named player of the tournament. Two finals, two decisive contributions, two trophies. For most pitchers, one such moment is a career highlight. This is becoming a habit for Bumrah.
The label “robot” from his captain inspires more admiration than it might seem at first glance. In cricket’s highest-pressure theatre, Bumrah is unflinchingly accurate: a sliding yorker, a wrister behind the crease, a slower ball that arrives straight on cue. Where others stiffen up, he seems to find a completely different speed.
A piece of national treasure? That’s just the truth.
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
March 15, 2026 12:10 PM IST
