A master of his trade: Reflecting on Jasprit Bumrah's T20 World Cup 2024 performance

Jasprit Bumrah's T20 World Cup 2024 will go down as one of the greatest individual campaigns ever seen in the tournament's history.

Claiming 15 wickets at an average of 8.26, Bumrah ended with an impressive economy of just 4.17, by far and away the best rate of those to bowl a minimum of 20 overs at the tournament. He joins his teammate Virat Kohli (a two-time winner) as India players to claim the Player of the Tournament award.

From the glitz of New York in the north to the toil of Guyana in the south and culminating with silverware in Barbados, let’s delve into his all-conquering campaign.

Rising to prominence 

At the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, where India started their tournament, bowlers got a fair share of the rewards on a comfortable pitch, but Bumrah continued to be a differentiator.

The right-armer's first three overs of the mega event against Ireland leaked just six runs, claiming wickets of Harry Tector and Josh Little, holding their opponents to just 96. The quick bowler was named Player of the Match for his efforts, a feat he then matched in perhaps a more crucial performance against Pakistan four days later.

With just 119 on the board, Bumrah struck within the Powerplay to dismiss Babar Azam, finding the outside edge of the opposition captain and into Suryakumar Yadav's hands. In what turned out to be the pivotal moment of the match, he came back to beat Mohammad Rizwan. He then tricked Iftikhar Ahmed to end with figures of 3/14 (4), giving up only one boundary.

Putting the best in Super Eights

Bumrah concluded with 6/49 in a four-day span throughout the course of the 12 overs bowled in the Super Eight round of the event, spanning three venues, helping India top the group.

Afghanistan's batters had no answer against him in Barbados, with both Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Hazratullah Zazai undone by change-of-pace deliveries to fall inside the Powerplay. He came back to dismiss Najibullah Zadran, giving up only seven runs in his four overs in another victory. 

After that, the India team traveled to Antigua to play Bangladesh, with Bumrah again causing havoc at the wicket to thwart any last-minute challenges to his team's 196. More off-pace bowling was the order to remove opposition skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, before he hurried up Rishad Hossain for his second to finish with 2/13.

In India's last Super Eights encounter against Australia in St Lucia, runs were plenty, and it was Bumrah's expertise at the death that again pulled his side through.

As the Australians attempted to make one more push for India's 205/5, The in-form Travis Head was stymied by Bumrah, whose dipping off-cutter in the 17th over forced a miscue from Rohit Sharma to all but guarantee India's top-spot finish. 

Taking a step up: Sealing silverware with impressive semi, final performances

Bumrah, who never backs down from a challenge, was present for both India's victory over England in the semi-finals in Guyana and the trophy-winning match against the Proteas in Barbados.

Joining forces with Axar Patel, the left-arm orthodox, at the other end, Bumrah consigned the English to 34/2 in the fifth over, beating Phil Salt and making a mess of the stumps, again with an off-cutter that was nearly impossible to pick out of his hand.

The opening spell set the tone for India, who held the English at bay in the chase, and the quick returned to trap Jofra Archer lbw to register India's final ticket.

As his teammates amassed 176/7 in the final against South Africa at Bridgetown, Bumrah went to work in the second over of India's bowling effort, and he may have saved his best for last when he brilliantly dismissed Reeza Hendricks with his third delivery. Hendricks was bowled by Bumrah, who was able to swing the ball away from him quickly and square the opener up before striking the top of his off-stump, despite his bowling motion indicating that the ball should be moved into the right hander.

The Proteas were six down and eventually too far behind in the match when Bumrah tucked one back between Marco Jansen's bat and pad with South Africa requiring 21 from the last 15 balls. With 2/18 (4) in the end, he helped India complete a seven-run victory.

Cover Credits - BCCI Official