Punjab Kings' biggest challenge: How to survive 'possessed' Jasprit Bumrah's 24 deliveries

Jasprit Bumrah celebrates after taking the wicket of Washington Sundar. (Pic credit: IPL)

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Let’s start with a stat. Mumbai Indians (MI) had zero titles before Jasprit Bumrah made his IPL debut. Since then, they have won five. Bumrah didn’t hit the ground running in 2013 — he played only two games for the eventual champions — but he did change Mumbai's fortunes and has been a pivotal cog in their wheel for the past decade.Cut to the present: On Friday, Rohit Sharma was adjudged Player of the Match for his 81. Don’t forget, he was dropped twice — on 3 and 12 — before registering his highest score of the season, a 50-ball 81.Those present at the New PCA Stadium in Mullanpur will vouch for Bumrah and his special yorker that got rid of Washington Sundar . The wicket not only derailed GT's chase but also reignited Bumrah’s fear factor.It wasn’t just the yorker that will give Punjab’s batters sleepless nights — it was the celebration too. Bumrah floored Sundar with the delivery, leaving the batter face down as the ball crashed into the leg stump. He was pumped and delivered a rare stare-off — a new addition to his arsenal.Bumrah rarely shows emotion on the pitch and seldom celebrates a wicket, but in the Eliminator, he looked like a man possessed. He finished with 1 for 27 in four overs — below par by his standards — yet Sundar’s wicket turned the tide in MI’s favour.In a world where bowlers get their due beyond talk shows and podcasts, Bumrah should have pipped Rohit for the Player of the Match award.At the start of the season, Bumrah missed four matches — MI won just one of them. While some say Mumbai are slow starters, it’s clear: without Bumrah, their attack lacks bite. Since his return, MI have won eight of their next eleven matches.On Sunday, it’s Bumrah who will be on Shreyas Iyer and Co.’s minds. Punjab negotiated him well in their last meeting — scoring 23 runs off his four overs and successfully chasing 185. If they manage to keep him quiet again, they’ll have a real chance. But Bumrah’s 24 deliveries in a T20 game are gold dust for any captain.And MI skipper Hardik Pandya knows it. After the win in Mullanpur, he said: “Whenever you think the game is going away, just bring him (Bumrah) on. When you have that, it’s a luxury. It’s like Mumbai housing prices — he’s that expensive.”In cricketing circles, Bumrah has been called a “cheat code” and even an “alien.” He has delivered for India and MI on the biggest stages and earned praise from legends of the game.Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene echoed that sentiment: “There are definitely no concerns when he comes back because his reputation itself carries through, and he was quite confident. He was nailing those yorkers. I remember it was against RCB in a high-scoring game; he went for 20 runs (23). He is a massive asset, given the experience he brings and the situations he bowls in for us.”Jayawardene isn’t the only one who treasures having Bumrah in his team. After India ended their ICC title drought by winning the T20 World Cup in 2024, at a felicitation ceremony, Virat Kohli said: “Let him decide what he wants to do with his schedule. We want him to play as long as possible. He’s a once-in-a-generation bowler, and we’re so glad he plays for us.”If not for his injury concerns, he could have been India's next Test captain. But with his workload management, he hasn't been handed that responsibility.In the Eliminator, he didn’t take a five-wicket haul, but the reception he got after yorking Sundar was a resounding reminder that Jasprit Bumrah is every bit the superstar — as revered as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, or MS Dhoni.

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