Former India batsman Mohammad Kaif has expressed concern over ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah’s form. His comments came following the second T20I against South Africa, which was played on Thursday, December 11, in Mullanpur.
Sent in to bat, the Proteas scored 213, while the hosts were bowled out for 162, suffering a hefty 51-run defeat. On Friday, December 12, Kaif reflected on the encounter, mentioning Bumrah, who conceded 45 runs in four overs.
He said most of Bumrah’s yorkers were floated, “which is worrying especially for the 2026 T20 World Cup.” The 45-year-old said on his YouTube channel:
“Even the new South African batters like Donovan Ferreira, who do not have big reputations, were hitting him. In the last couple of months, several batters have dominated him. There is no issue if someone hits a six off a good delivery, that happens, but the problem is that the balls he wants to bowl are not landing. That is a big question mark over Bumrah’s bowling at the moment.”
Mohammad Kaif
“I felt disappointed. And this is worrying because there is a World Cup coming in a month or so. Out of the six or seven balls he tried, all turned into full tosses. Some of those full tosses went for six. In my opinion, the way he bowled yesterday, missing his yorkers, that is a concern. He is a great bowler, but I have never seen him make so many mistakes.”
Mohammad Kaif
In 2025, Bumrah has played 12 T20Is, taking 12 wickets in ten innings at an average of 23.00, a strike rate of 18.5, and an economy rate of 7.42.
“That is a concern” – Mohammad Kaif outlines major flaw in Axar Patel’s usage
In the same video, Mohammad Kaif pointed out a fundamental problem in Axar Patel’s bowling, claiming that he is more efficient against right-handers and is sometimes underutilized when left-handers are on the crease. This was clear in the second T20I against South Africa, when Quinton de Kock batted and Axar bowled only three overs instead of finishing his entire quota.
Kaif added that if a club only puts in left-handed batters, Shivam Dube ends up as a sixth bowling option, while not being a true all-rounder, which is concerning. Kaif said:
“With Axar Patel, there is a bit of a condition. If someone like de Kock is batting and he is set, then Axar cannot bowl all four overs. That is what happened in yesterday’s match. They held Axar back and did not let him complete his overs. That is a concern because Axar Patel is more effective against right handers. In my opinion, because you hold him back early, he cannot prepare mentally. You assume beforehand that against a left hander he will not be able to take wickets, so you decide not to bowl him.”
Mohammad Kaif
“Even in the IPL, this has happened many times with Delhi. When Shreyas Iyer was captain at Delhi Capitals, sometimes Axar bowled one over and then was not used again even though three overs were left. Someone else bowled instead. So this is another concern in this bowling attack. If a left hander comes in, Axar Patel will not be given the ball. Then your sixth bowler is Dube. Dube is still not a proper all rounder. He is still learning. He cannot match Hardik Pandya.”
Mohammad Kaif
Axar Patel has played 85 T20Is, taking 82 wickets at an average of 21.92, with a strike rate of 18.1 and an economy rate of 7.24.
