Jasprit Bumrah vs Shaheen Afridi: Who’s the Best ODI Bowler?

Compare Jasprit Bumrah vs Shaheen Afridi’s ODI bowling skills to determine who is the best in world cricket. An India vs. Pakistan match is always special, full of passion, and watched with great excitement. The “El Clasico” of cricket is set to take place today in the Asia Cup 2023 group stage.

Over the past 30 years, India and Pakistan have had intense battles, with India’s strong batting facing Pakistan’s powerful bowling. However, the game has changed, and so have the players.

Pakistan still has a great bowling attack, but India now has top fast bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, and Mohammad Siraj. On the other hand, Pakistan’s batting has improved with stars like Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, and Imam ul-Haq.

Today’s match will also focus on the clash between two of the best fast bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah from India and Shaheen Shah Afridi from Pakistan.

Let’s compare how these two pacers have performed in ODIs and see where they excel.

Take a closer look at the ODI performances of Shaheen Afridi and Jasprit Bumrah.

Let’s begin by looking at how the top bowlers perform in ODIs overall.

Player	Span	Innings	Wkts	BBI	Avg	ECO	SR	4w
Shaheen Afridi	2018-2023	39	78	6-35	23.8	5.42	25.5	5/2
Jasprit Bumrah	2016-2023	72	121	6-19	24.3	4.63	31.4	5/2

Comparing the ICC ODI records of Shaheen Afridi and Jasprit Bumrah.

A player’s greatness is often measured by their performance in ICC tournaments. In these events, Afridi has taken more wickets than Bumrah and has done so with a better average. Here are the stats:

Player	Span	Innings	Wkts	BBI	Avg	ECO	SR	4w
Shaheen Afridi	2019-2022	18	38	6-35	22.81	5.36	25.5	2
Jasprit Bumrah	2017-2020	17	26	5-55	29.84	4.99	35.8	1

The pressure in knockout matches: Stats in semi-finals and finals of tournaments.

The main difference between these two bowling stars is how often their teams have reached the final or semifinals in ODI tournaments. Jasprit Bumrah has played in four such knockout matches and taken four wickets.

However, Bumrah’s numbers in knockout games aren’t impressive. He has an average of 66.5 and a strike rate of 72.5 in these matches.

On the other hand, Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan’s top pacer, has never played in a knockout ODI game since his debut.

Who do they prefer bowling to – left-handers or right-handers?

The numbers for both players are quite different. One might expect the tall left-arm pacer, who has a great in-swinger to right-handers, to have better figures against right-handers. Similarly, Jasprit Bumrah, with his action and ability to bring the ball back into left-handers, might be more successful against them. However, the actual results tell a very different story.

Player	Vs Player Type	Innings	Wkts	ECO	Avg	SR	Dot%
Jasprit Bumrah	Left	69	43	4.93	27.4	33.4	61.1
Shaheen Afridi	Left	37	26	5.64	22.9	24.3	57.7
Jasprit Bumrah	Right	72	78	4.45	22.6	30.4	63.1
Shaheen Afridi	Right	38	50	5.3	23.9	27.1	60.4

Comparison of performance on different pitches.

In Asia, where the pitches usually help spinners, both fast bowlers have done amazingly well. Shaheen Afridi has taken 43 wickets in 21 innings on Asian pitches, with an average of 19.81. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah has picked 63 wickets in 37 matches in Asian conditions, with an average of 23.95.

Shaheen Shah Afridi’s Record

Grouping	Span	Innings	Wkts	Ave	Eco	SR
In Africa	2019-21	7	12	27.75	5.59	29.7
In Asia	2018-23	21	43	19.81	4.93	24
In Europe	2019-21	12	23	26.78	6.14	26.1
Home	2020-23	12	24	21.87	5.14	25.5
Away	2019-21	14	19	37.63	6.35	35.5
Neutral	2018-23	14	35	16.02	4.76	20.1

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Jasprit Bumrah’s Record

Grouping	Span	Innings	Wkts	Avg	ECO	SR
In Africa	2016-22	12	22	17.31	3.89	26.6
In Asia	2016-20	37	63	23.95	4.65	30.8
In Europe	2017-22	16	30	21.63	4.52	28.6
In Oceania	2016-20	7	6	67	5.78	69.5
Home	2016-20	28	40	30.3	4.93	36.8
Away	2016-22	27	52	20.46	4.47	27.4
Neutral	2017-19	17	29	22.93	4.4	31.2

Ball Comparison: New Ball vs. Old Ball

With New ball (Overs 0-10)

Player	Innings	Overs	Wkts	ECO	Avg	SR	Dot%
Bumrah	67	254	34	4.04	30.2	44.8	72.9
Shaheen	39	155.5	31	4.85	24.4	30.2	69.6

With Old ball (Overs 40-50)

Player	Innings	Overs	Wkts	ECO	Avg	SR	Dot%
Bumrah	58	172.1	61	5.8	16.4	16.9	48
Shaheen	26	74.1	36	7.12	14.7	12.4	41.8