Jasprit Bumrah's unpredictability has made him devastating across all formats: Gavaskar

MUMBAI: While it was Sanju Samson's magnificent knock of 97 not out off 50 balls which shaped India's thrilling five-wicket thrilling victory over the West Indies in the final match of the 2026 T20 World Cup Super 8s at the Eden Gardens on Kolkata on Saturday night, the contribution of premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who made two telling strikes to dismiss the well-set Shimron Hetmyer (caught behind) and Roston Chase (caught at cover) in the 12th over, when the West Indies were flying at 101 for one in the 12th over, cannot be ignored.

Swinging the game around completely, Bumrah’s blows ensured West Indies finished at 195 for four- a par total on a flat track.

For a bowler who recently marked 10 years in international cricket, Bumrah continues to confound the batters, as they still struggle to score freely off him. What makes him so hard to face, you wonder.Speaking during a media interaction legendary opener Sunil Gavaskar said what has made Bumrah so lethal even after a decade at the top level is the classy fast bowler's ability to keep evolving his bowling.

“I am delighted to be in the commentary box rather than facing him. What stands out with Bumrah is the constant evolution of his bowling arsenal. He began primarily swinging the ball into right-handers and naturally away from left-handers, but as early as India’s 2018 tour of England, he demonstrated reverse movement—into left-handers and away from right-handers.

He relentlessly adds variations like the slow bouncer and slow yorker."

Gavaskar said. Gavaskar asserted that "Bumrah's unpredictability has made him devastating across all formats.”"Critically, his run-up and action show minimal change, leaving batters unprepared. With most bowlers—though not all—you can spot subtle 'tells' (calls) from the non-striker’s end: a shoulder shrug, shirt flick or similar gesture as they decide their delivery during the walk. With most bowlers—though not all—you can spot subtle 'tells' from the non-striker’s end: a shoulder shrug, shirt flick or similar gesture as they decide their delivery during the walk-back and run-up.

Over time, you decode these cues. As detailed in Andre Agassi’s book, he cracked Boris Becker’s serves by noting tongue position when tossing the ball—left for wide, right for the centre-lineBut Bumrah reveals nothing. His wide-of-the-crease angle makes you anticipate inswing, yet he can seam it away. That unpredictability has made him devastating across all formats.”Gavaskar urged India to give Bumrah "at least two powerplay overs" so that he can "shatter England's top-order of Jos Buttler, Phil Salt and Harry Brook." Asked how pivotal will Bumrah's match-up be against England captain Brook-looking in regal touch- in the World Cup semifinal clash on Wednesday at the Wankhede Stadium, Gavaskar said: “That matchup will be fascinating to watch. I believe Bumrah should bowl at least two powerplay overs. With the new ball, striking early—like getting Jos Buttler, Phil Salt or Harry Brook— would shatter England’s top order. Bringing him on for the fifth over lets openers face 20 deliveries (8- 10 each) and settle.

Would it not be better for India if Bumrah attacked them fresh from the start, dismissing them before they adjust?”Gavaskar pointed out that England all-rounder Will Jacks' off-spin could be dangerous for India in the semis clash, particularly as the hosts had plenty of left-handers in their line-up. Enjoying a memorable campaign, Jacks has already won four 'Player of the Match' awards in the tournament. “Yes, if there is a bit of turn on the Wankhede pitch, he could prove to be a handful.

How Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya counter him will be crucial. He may not bowl much to India’s left-handers like Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan or Shivam Dube lower down—the right-handers might face him more. But he is in top form right now; tournaments often bring such purple patches. Even his handy lower-order batting at No.

7 is a huge asset for England, much like Shivam Dube’s impact yesterday at the same position—two boundaries in one over eased the pressure,” Gavaskar said.Praising Samson's knock as amongst the "finest T20 innings in recent times," Gavaskar completed the 'keeper-batter for anchoring India's chase till the end. “He anchored the innings and then saw India home, which is crucial. Often, when players get out in the 16th or 17th over, a new batter faces pressure, making it difficult. It was a superb innings—he anchored firmly, finished the chase without undue risks, relied on proper cricketing shots, and avoided flashy plays like the reverse scoop.

By sticking to his strengths with conventional strokeplay, it ranks among the finest T20 innings in recent times.”As he heads into his first World Cup knockout match, our-of-form opener Abhishek Sharma received a simple piece of advice from Gavaskar: Take time before exploding. “My advice is to avoid forcing fourth gear right away—shift gears progressively as you settle. Capitalise on the powerplay, where only two fielders are outside the 30-yard circle, and play to your strengths.

But you do not need constant top gear; look at Sanju yesterday, cruising mostly in third gear for 97 off 50 balls.

A platform of 97 typically leads to double or more, so 190-200 batting first in a semi-final is often a match-winning total,” Gavaskar stressed.Amongst the four T20 World Cup semifinalists-India, England, New Zealand and South Africa-Gavaskar picked in-form South Africa and England to go through to the final.

“In T20 cricket, a game can swing in a single over, so it is unpredictable. That said, looking at form into the semis, South Africa and England won all their Super 8 matches, while India and New Zealand each lost one. On paper, those two undefeated sides would be favourites to advance to the final,” he felt.Gavaskar felt that the India vs England semis clash would be a thriller, just like the India vs West Indies Super 8s game.

“It promises to be another thrilling contest, much like this quarter-final against West Indies. Both teams are evenly matched, boasting strong batting line-ups, bowling variety, solid middle orders and reliable finishers. Each side has experienced T20 players; England even has several IPL veterans familiar with Indian conditions and the intense crowd pressure from franchise games.

This should be a humdinger of a match, likely extending to the full 40 overs, just as yesterday's did in Kolkata,” Gavaskar said.Gavaskar was hopeful that India would be able to break the semi-final jinx at Wankhede-they won the 2023 ODI World Cup semis clash against New Zealand at the venue, but lost here at the last four stage to England in the 1987 ODI World Cup and then to West Indies in the 2016 T20 World Cup. “Yesterday, someone noted that the West Indies had never lost a knockout at Eden Gardens—until that record was broken. It is a new era and a new team. India have indeed struggled in semifinals at Wankhede so far, but I firmly believe this side has what it takes to advance all the way to the final in Ahmedabad,” Gavaskar said.