Former England captain Michael Vaughan could not stop gushing over Jasprit Bumrah after his record-breaking show in the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup final against New Zealand last Sunday in Ahmedabad. Bumrah became the first fast bowler to pick up a four-wicket haul in a T20 World Cup knockout game with his 4 for 15, which took his overall tally to 40 wickets across all his World Cup appearances, the most by a pacer, all of which came at a meagre economy rate of 5.66.
India's Jasprit Bumrah holds the tournament trophy during celebrations after India won the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 in Ahmedabad (PTI)
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Speaking on Stick to Cricket, Vaughan showed no hesitation in admitting that Bumrah is the best bowler he has ever seen. Not only did he compare the Indian star to football legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but he also reckoned that if placed in any team, he could single-handedly win the World Cup for that side.
“Put Jasprit Bumrah in England's team and they win it,” he said.
Fellow English cricketer Mark Butcher agreed: “I reckon if you put him in anybody's team, they’ll win it.”
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“Exactly,” Vaughan added. “He’s probably like Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo — those kinds of players.”
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“Exactly,” Vaughan added. “He’s probably like Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo — those kinds of players.”
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David Lloyd, however, interrupted him, asking: “Didn’t you say he is the best bowler you have ever seen?”
And the former England captain replied: “Yes, he is. You’ve got to remember that I started watching or studying cricket in 1985, and he’s the best I’ve seen.”
However, former England captain Alastair Cook wasn’t entirely convinced with the “best-ever” tag for Bumrah. He admitted that while Bumrah is the best all-format bowler of the current generation, he questioned whether the Indian pacer had produced a truly defining, match-winning spell in Tests.
“Is he the best in terms of match-winning spells in Test cricket? Without a shadow of a doubt, he is the best all-format bowler around, I think. I mean, you can safely say that. But has he, like, in a Test match bowled a spell like an 8/15, or is he not that kind of bowler?” he asked.
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Vaughan countered again: “I’ve seen him a bit in Australia. Some of the spells have been different — that too on flat decks.”
As for Cook’s point, there have been eight instances when Bumrah has picked up eight or more wickets in a match; six of those came on overseas tracks across England, South Africa and Australia, and on three occasions he even picked up the Player of the Match award.
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.
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Home/Cricket/‘Put Bumrah in England’s XI, they win it’: Vaughan likens India star to Messi, Ronaldo as Cook raises ‘best ever’ doubt
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