After Jasprit Bumrah's heroics in the 2026 T20 World Cup final, Aussie legend Glenn McGrath has raised concerns about the pacer's future in Test cricket. McGrath feels that Bumrah might reduce his Test appearances, so he can make the white-ball format his priority.
India's Jasprit Bumrah celebrates the wicket of New Zealand's Matt Henry during the T20 World Cup 2026 final. (PTI)
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Bumrah finished as the highest-wicket taker in the tournament. Although he and teammate Varun Chakaravarthy (14) took the same number of wickets, Bumrah's economy rate of 6.21 puts him on top. Varun ended his campaign with an economy rate of 9.26.
Bumrah was also adjudged as Player of the Match in the final as his 4/15 saw New Zealand get bowled out for 159 in 19 overs during their chase of 256 runs.
‘Is he going to just start focusing on white-ball cricket?’: Glenn McGrath
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Speaking on the Fast Bowling Cartel, McGrath said, "My concern, as he's a little bit older now, is that playing back-to-back Test matches is getting tougher for him. Is he going to just start focusing on white-ball cricket? That'll be a massive loss to Test cricket if he did. We might only see him rarely in Test matches, maybe against an Australia."
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Speaking on the Fast Bowling Cartel, McGrath said, "My concern, as he's a little bit older now, is that playing back-to-back Test matches is getting tougher for him. Is he going to just start focusing on white-ball cricket? That'll be a massive loss to Test cricket if he did. We might only see him rarely in Test matches, maybe against an Australia."
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Hailing his skillset, McGrath said, "Just how good is he. When he comes on, he looks completely different to every other fast bowler. Batters try to lineup every other bowler when they are set, but not him. What I like about Bumrah is how he bowls the really good Test match length successfully in T20s. His other variations are all brilliant as well. He is just a gun."
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Bumrah was a crucial member of the 2024 T20 World Cup-winning team too. Meanwhile, he has also helped India win the Asia Cup titles in 2016, 2018, 2023, and 2025.
Chasing 256, New Zealand failed to get going as Bumrah's four-wicket haul dismantled their batting order. The speedster accounted for the dismissals of Rachin Ravindra (1), Mitchell Santner (43), James Neesham (8), and Matt Henry (0). Meanwhile, Axar Patel took three wickets. Initially, Sanju Samson's 46-ball 89 took India to 255/5 in 20 overs. Ishan Kishan (54) and Abhishek Sharma (52) also got half-centuries for the hosts in Ahmedabad.
Neelav Chakravarti has been part of the digital sports team at Hindustan Times since 2022, where he covers a wide range of disciplines, including chess, cricket, football, and Olympic sports. Working in a fast-paced digital newsroom, he regularly handles live blogs, breaking updates, and trending stories, combining speed with clarity to keep readers informed in real time. Chess remains both a professional beat and a personal passion for Neelav, and he closely tracks major international tournaments, player narratives, and emerging talents. He is particularly fascinated by the patience, calculation, and strategic depth the game demands, often exploring the psychological side of competition in his writing. Beyond sports journalism, Neelav has a deep interest in visual storytelling and filmmaking, actively participating in film festivals and engaging with independent cinema. He is especially drawn to films that capture the subtleties of everyday life and human relationships, appreciating storytelling that balances realism with emotional depth. This creative interest complements his approach to sports coverage, where he enjoys highlighting the human stories behind performances and results.
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Home/Cricket/Jasprit Bumrah's Test future in doubt after T20 World Cup heroics: 'Little bit older now. We might only rarely see him'
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