Josh Hazlewood vs Jasprit Bumrah: Who is a better bowler in all formats at present?

Josh Hazlewood delivered a match-winning spell in the 2nd T20I against India, raising the question of whether he is currently a better bowler than Jasprit Bumrah.

Hazlewood’s performance in the 2nd T20I

During the second T20I at the MCG, Hazlewood was nearly unplayable. His bowling with the new ball dismantled the Indian top order, leaving India struggling throughout the innings. Hazlewood's figures were 3 wickets for 13 runs in four overs. He dismissed Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tilak Varma, contributing significantly to India being bundled out for just 125 runs.

Bumrah’s performance in the same game

With India's modest total, expectations were high for Jasprit Bumrah to lead the bowling attack in defense. However, Bumrah struggled initially and conceded extra runs, which eased the Australian chase. Although he took two wickets, finishing with 2 for 26, these wickets had minimal impact on the match outcome.

Comparing Hazlewood and Bumrah

"Bumrah is often projected as the best pacer of contemporary cricket."

Despite Hazlewood’s impressive spell in this game, a broader comparison of their careers shows Jasprit Bumrah to be more effective overall. Bumrah maintains better averages and strike rates across all formats, reflecting greater consistency and impact.

Summary

While Hazlewood shone in this specific T20I, Bumrah’s career statistics establish him as the more efficient bowler across all formats at present.

Author's summary: Josh Hazlewood's outstanding spell in the recent T20I challenges Bumrah’s dominance, but career stats still favor Bumrah as the top all-format bowler.

Hindustan Times — 2025-10-31