Jasprit Bumrah vs Mitchell Starc: Who is the Pace Bowling King?–>Fast bowling is an art that can change the course of a cricket match in an instant. Among the modern-day greats, Jasprit Bumrah and Mitchell Starc stand out as two of the most lethal pacers in world cricket. Their ability to generate speed, swing, and deadly yorkers has made them indispensable to their respective teams, India and Australia. But who reigns supreme as the ultimate pace bowling king? Let’s dive into the stats, performances, and impact of these two speedsters.
Jasprit Bumrah vs Mitchell Starc: Who is the Pace Bowling King?
Fast bowling is one of the most thrilling aspects of cricket, and two names that stand out in modern-day cricket are Jasprit Bumrah and Mitchell Starc. Both are lethal pacers who can turn a match around with their speed, accuracy, and ability to take crucial wickets. But when it comes to the title of the ultimate pace bowling king, who takes the crown
Bowling Style & Technique
Jasprit Bumrah
- Unique sling-arm action, making it difficult for batsmen to pick his deliveries.
- Relies on accuracy, seam movement, and deadly yorkers.
- Ability to bowl at high speeds (140-150 km/h) while maintaining control.
- Brilliant death-over specialist, known for his unplayable toe-crushers.
Mitchell Starc
- Tall left-arm fast bowler, generating natural angle into right-handed batsmen.
- Exceptional swing bowler with a sharp in-swinging yorker.
- Can consistently clock speeds over 145 km/h.
- Aggressive wicket-taking mindset, often troubling batsmen early in the innings.
Performance in Different Formats
To determine who is the better pacer, let’s analyze their performances across all formats of international cricket.
Test Cricket – Who Dominates the Red Ball?
| Player | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10w |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 45 | 86 | 8630 | 3977 | 205 | 6/27 | 9/86 | 19.40 | 2.76 | 42.0 | 7 | 13 | 0 |
| Mitchell Starc | 94 | 180 | 18337 | 10448 | 376 | 6/48 | 11/94 | 27.78 | 3.41 | 48.7 | 20 | 15 | 2 |
- Bumrah has been India’s spearhead in overseas conditions, excelling in England, Australia, and South Africa.
- Starc has been a consistent performer for Australia, using pace and swing effectively, especially on home soil.
ODI Cricket – The 50-Over Impact
| Player | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10w |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 89 | 88 | 4580 | 3509 | 149 | 6/19 | 6/19 | 23.55 | 4.59 | 30.7 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Mitchell Starc | 127 | 127 | 6512 | 5711 | 244 | 6/28 | 6/28 | 23.40 | 5.26 | 26.6 | 12 | 9 | 0 |
- Starc has been the leading wicket-taker in multiple ICC ODI tournaments, especially the World Cups.
- Bumrah is known for his ability to choke runs and take wickets in death overs, making him a match-winner in crunch situations.
T20 Cricket – The Death Over Specialist
| Player | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10w |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 70 | 69 | 1509 | 1579 | 89 | 3/7 | 3/7 | 17.74 | 6.27 | 16.9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mitchell Starc | 65 | 65 | 1458 | 1881 | 79 | 4/20 | 4/20 | 23.81 | 7.74 | 18.4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
- Bumrah has been a dominant force in T20s with his pinpoint yorkers and slower variations.
- Starc has been a wicket-taker in the shortest format but has struggled with consistency at times.
Performance in ICC Tournaments
Jasprit Bumrah
| Formate | Innings | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Econ | Avg | SR | 5W | BBI | 4s | 6s | Dot% |
| ODI | 20 | 175.5 | 744 | 38 | 4.23 | 19.6 | 27.8 | 0 | 4/39 | 74 | 7 | 65.7 |
| T20 | 18 | 68.2 | 372 | 26 | 5.44 | 14.3 | 15.8 | 0 | 3/7 | 38 | 6 | 56.1 |
Mitchell Starc
| Formate | Innings | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Econ | Avg | SR | 5W | BBI | 4s | 6s | Dot% |
| ODI | 28 | 243.1 | 1,254 | 65 | 5.16 | 19.3 | 22.4 | 3 | 6/28 | 124 | 23 | 64.9 |
| T20 | 25 | 97.0 | 814 | 32 | 8.39 | 25.4 | 18.2 | 0 | 3/20 | 82 | 30 | 50.7 |
Yorkers, Swing & Variations – Who Has the Edge?
Yorkers
Both bowlers are known for their unplayable yorkers, but Bumrah’s accuracy in death overs makes him slightly superior in this department.
Swing & Seam Movement
- Starc’s left-arm angle and ability to generate early swing give him an advantage with the new ball.
- Bumrah’s ability to move the ball off the pitch makes him dangerous on all surfaces.
Variations
- Bumrah: Slower balls, sharp bouncers, deceptive off-cutters.
- Starc: Fast in-swinging yorkers, bouncers, full-length deliveries.
Records & Achievements
| Milestone | Jasprit Bumrah | Mitchell Starc |
| First 100 ODI wickets | 57 matches | 52 matches |
| First 100 Test wickets | 24 matches | 25 matches |
| ICC Tournaments Leading Wicket-Taker | No | Yes (2015 & 2019 World Cups) |
| Best Bowling Figures in Tests | 6/27 | 6/48 |
| Best Bowling Figures in ODIs | 6/19 | 6/28 |
| Best Bowling Figures in T20Is | 3/7 | 4/20 |
- Starc’s World Cup dominance gives him an edge in ICC events.
- Bumrah’s consistency across all formats makes him a reliable match-winner.
Impact in Big Matches & ICC Tournaments
- Starc has delivered in ICC World Cups (2015 & 2019), often emerging as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker.
- Bumrah has been India’s go-to bowler in knockout matches, including the 2019 World Cup and 2023 WTC Final.
Fitness & Longevity – Who Has a Longer Career Ahead?
- Bumrah has faced back injuries but has managed his workload well.
- Starc has struggled with knee and foot injuries but continues to be a force in Tests and ODIs.
- Given Bumrah’s adaptability in all formats, he might have a longer international career.
Fan Following & Popularity
- Bumrah is an IPL superstar, gaining massive fan support in India and globally.
- Starc is respected for his fiery pace and has a strong following, especially in Australia.
Expert Opinions & Player Comparisons
Cricket legends have often compared these two bowlers:
- Wasim Akram on Bumrah: “One of the best death bowlers in modern cricket.”
- Brett Lee on Starc: “A genuine match-winner with the ability to destroy batting lineups.”
Conclusion: Who is the Ultimate Pace Bowling King?
Both Jasprit Bumrah and Mitchell Starc bring unique strengths to the table.
- Starc is an ICC tournament specialist, excelling in ODIs and Tests with his lethal swing.
- Bumrah is the more consistent bowler across formats, excelling in T20s and Tests with his accuracy and variations.
Final Verdict: If we consider overall impact, Jasprit Bumrah has the edge due to his all-format dominance and versatility. However, in ICC tournaments and World Cups, Mitchell Starc remains one of the most feared fast bowlers.
FAQs
1. Who is better, Jasprit Bumrah or Mitchell Starc?
Both bowlers have unique strengths. Bumrah is more consistent across all formats, while Starc has been dominant in ICC tournaments, especially the World Cup.
2. Who has a better Test record, Bumrah or Starc?
Mitchell Starc has played more Test matches and taken more wickets, but Bumrah has a better bowling average and excels in overseas conditions.
3. Who is the better yorker specialist?
Jasprit Bumrah is widely regarded as the best yorker specialist in modern cricket, particularly in death overs. However, Starc’s in-swinging yorkers are lethal with the new ball.
4. Who has taken more wickets in ICC tournaments?
Mitchell Starc has been the leading wicket-taker in multiple ICC tournaments, including the 2015 and 2019 Cricket World Cups.
5. How does Bumrah compare to Starc in ODIs?
Starc has taken more wickets in ODIs and has been a key performer in World Cups. Bumrah, on the other hand, is known for his economy rate and effectiveness in death overs.