World Cup 2023: Never seen him out of form: Ex-Pakistan captains on India's Bumrah

INDIA'S sensational performance in World Cup 2023 has left cricket pundits across the world at loss of words and it was no exception on Thursday (2) when they hammered a listless Sri Lanka by 302 runs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai to book a berth in the semi-finals.

The Indian pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami destroyed the Sri Lankan batting order, cleaning up half their side for 14 and bowling them out for a paltry 55 with spinner Ravindra Jadeja taking one wicket.

Shami picked his second five-wicket haul of the tournament by conceding just 18 runs while Siraj claimed three. But it was Bumrah who opened the floodgates in the very first delivery of the Lankan innings when he trapped opener Pathum Nissanka before the wicket. The batter went for a review but the decision went in India's favour. It was the first time ever that an India bowler picked a wicket in the very first ball of an innings in the World Cup.

Former Pakistan captains Misbah-ul-Haq and Shoaib Malik said on a television talk show in Pakistan that the India pacer is never out of form in his career.

"Never seen him (Bumrah) out of form. He always remains in form," Misbah said smilingly during a discussion on A Sports.

Malik then responded jokingly saying the Indian is out of form only when he is injured.

He then added, "Injury can happen to anybody. Players have to be very honest with the physios when recuperating and also to their trade. So when you return, you come in as completely fit. I don't see any difference in him before the injury and after the injury. He is the same old Bumrah before the injury. In fact, he has become more lethal now."

Bumrah missed cricket for nearly a year due to a back injury and returned for the Asia Cup in September and produced an impressive performance straightaway.

In the World Cup, too, he has been giving India crucial breakthroughs and other bowlers are capitalising on them.

He is the fifth highest wicket-taker in this World Cup at the moment with 15 scalps in seven matches. Shami has 14 in just three.

But why did not Bumrah get more wickets against Sri Lanka?

Misbah explained saying the pacer did not get more wickets since he was bowling 'extraordinary' deliveries in which the batters mostly get beaten. He said the batters were playing him more safely and it was one of the reasons why Bumrah was getting less rewards.

Bumrah won't be complaining though.