Du Plessis Hails Bumrah as India’s ‘Genie’ After Match-Winning Spell in T20 World Cup Semi-final

Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has praised Jasprit Bumrah, calling him a “superpower that every captain dreams of” after the Indian fast bowler played a decisive role in India’s thrilling semi-final win over England national cricket team in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

In a high-scoring contest where India posted 253 and England finished on 247, Bumrah’s disciplined spell proved to be the difference. While runs flowed freely for most bowlers, Bumrah conceded just 8.25 runs per over and claimed a crucial wicket during England’s chase.

Du Plessis compared Bumrah’s impact to a magical advantage for any captain. “Team India don’t understand how lucky they are to have him,” he said. “Regardless of the format, you just give him the ball and he wins you games. It’s like having a genie – you rub the lamp and out comes Bumrah.”

Bumrah bowled key overs throughout the innings, including the crucial 18th over when England still had hopes of chasing the massive target. With England needing quick runs and Jacob Bethell batting aggressively, Bumrah delivered a series of yorkers and slower balls that restricted the scoring and swung the momentum back in India’s favour.

Du Plessis also highlighted the mystery of Bumrah’s unique bowling action, which makes him extremely difficult for batters to read. Even when he slightly missed his yorker length, England batters struggled to time the ball due to the late release from his wrist.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav was also praised for using Bumrah at the right moments during the chase.

Du Plessis further credited Hardik Pandya for his big-match temperament after the all-rounder contributed a quick 27 runs and delivered a crucial 19th over with the ball. Former India captain Anil Kumble also noted that Pandya’s bowling has improved significantly, making him an even more valuable asset for India in high-pressure matches.

Catch the match live updates, highlights, and full match coverage on CricRadio. Get fast, accurate, and ad-free updates throughout the game. Download the CricRadio app from the Play Store to stay connected. You can also get the live scores of cricket series directly on the CricRadio website for real-time coverage.