Arguably the greatest Indian cricketer of the modern era, Bumrah remains a delight to watch whenever he comes on to bowl. A complete bowler, with searing pace and accuracy, Bumrah remains one of the most consistent fast bowlers who can be called up at any given moment to turn the tide towards his side. And rarely does he disappoint.

Bumrah recently joined the elusive club of 400 international wickets, becoming just the 10th bowler in Indian cricket history to the landmark. Overall, he is just the sixth fast bowler from the nation to the feat, making it a remarkable achievement.

But, can he go further and establish his name in the highest strata? There are enough reasons to believe he can.

How does Bumrah compare to other Indian quicks?

Bumrah, 30, has played 196 international matches for India thus far in an eight-year-long career. He has picked up 164 Test wickets, 149 ODI wickets along with 89 T20I scalps. He averages 20.50 in the longest format, 23.55 in ODIs and 17.74 in the 20-over game.

He needs 285 wickets more to equal Kapil’s record of 687 international scalps for India, which the former captain achieved in 356 matches. He is within touching distance of overhauling Ishant Sharma (434) and Mohammed Shami (448), who is still active and will add to his tally once he returns to full fitness.

While comparing stats across formats is not ideal because they require different demands and metrics, Bumrah’s all-format average of 21.02, the best among all India quicks listed above, stands out. He has a strike rate of 22.3, once again the best on the list. The fact that he has managed to do so while balancing the demands of the three formats without letting his performances dip in any, suggests the world-class player he is.

Can Bumrah achieve fast-bowling greatness?

Yes, but Indian fans will be wary of overburdening him with expectations. Bumrah has struggled with injuries, which has seen him miss extended periods of international cricket. Even while fit, the fear of overworking him has led the Indian team to rest him from time to time.

Since the start of 2023, Bumrah has played just 34 internationals, with Shubman Gill playing the most number of games (66). However, he did not play any matches till August last year after being sidelined due to a back injury ahead of the 2022 T20 World Cup.

While the figure of 285 wickets, on paper, is not a tough task for someone of Bumrah’s calibre, his workload management needs to be monitored as India aim to preserve the premier quick for crucial tournaments and tours.

When can Bumrah overtake Kapil?

Based purely on numbers, Bumrah has played an average of 24 matches per year since he made his debut in 2016. He has picked up nearly 2.05 wickets per game that he has played. Since his comeback, the number has gone up slightly to 2.4 wickets per game.

At this rate, he will need around 119 more matches to equal Kapil’s record. Bumrah has played 34 matches in the last 20 months - an average of 1.7 of games per month. If he continues at this rate, he will need almost six years to break Kapil’s record, reaching there close to his 37th birthday.

Generally, fast bowlers tire down by their mid to late thirties. Only three seamers from India have taken 50 wickets after the age of 34, for example. Bumrah has plenty going against him, but then, you can never really count him out.

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