Jasprit Bumrah is India’s fast-bowling revolution, the type of bowler captains dream of—someone who can turn games around in a single spell. Nonetheless, India’s recent Test cricket performance has shown that they can score more runs without him.

The recently ended Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy saw the series end in a tie. India tied the five-Test series 2-2, but it was in the Tests sans Bumrah, particularly the second and fifth, that they were more clinical as a bowling unit. Despite Bumrah’s 14 wickets in three Tests, including two five-wicket hauls, India’s team results were not favourable.

Because to his hard exertion, India only recovered once he rested. Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Akash Deep performed admirably in his absence, with Siraj bringing up a magnificent 5-wicket haul on the final day at The Oval to secure a thrilling six-run victory and tie the series. There is a minor difference in how India plays with and without him.

India’s Test win % with and without Jasprit Bumrah

While he remains India’s most bankable bowler, one who regularly makes things happen when others go flat. But it is surprising how India adapts their attack around him. With Bumrah in the XI, the others often tend to bowl around him, almost as if waiting for him to do the damage. Without him, the responsibility spreads out, and that seems to liberate the rest of the bowling group.

Since 2022, India has won more Tests abroad without Bumrah than with him, a pattern that showed up in Bangladesh, the West Indies, and now England. Part of that is down to how well the likes of Mohammed Shami, Siraj, and the newer names have come up the ranks.

Bumrah’s injury has often kept him out of action. He missed the 2022 T20 World Cup, the WTC Final in 2023, Champions Trophy in 2025 due to a back stress fracture.