Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif thinks Jasprit Bumrah could soon call it quits on his Test career. The fast bowler, currently ranked No.1 in the world, hasn’t quite looked like himself in the ongoing Manchester Test against England. His pace has noticeably dropped, he’s mostly been bowling in the 130–135 kmph range, which is slower than what we saw from him earlier in the series.
Mohammad Kaif’s Bold Prediction: Is Bumrah Done with Test Cricket?
Back in the first two Tests at Leeds and Lord’s, Jasprit Bumrah was regularly clocking speeds around 140 kmph and looked much sharper. But in Manchester, he’s only picked up one wicket so far, getting Jamie Smith out in the first innings. At one point during the second session, Bumrah was seen holding his ankle, which raised a few eyebrows. He did return to bowl later, but seemed to be taking it easy, not charging in with his usual intensity.
Mohammad Kaif feels it might be time for fans to start thinking about a future without Bumrah in the Test arena. Before the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series even began, it was made clear that Jasprit Bumrah would only play three Tests to manage his workload, something that now seems more important than ever.
“Jasprit Bumrah, I don’t think you will see him playing in the upcoming test matches. And he might even take retirement. He is struggling with his body. His body has totally given up. His speeds have been on the lower side in the Manchester Test. There is no speed in this Test match,” said Kaif in a video shared on X (formerly Twitter).
“And he is a selfless person. If he feels that he is not able to give 100 per cent for the country, that he is not able to win the match, that he is not getting the wickets, then he himself will refuse. This is my gut feel,” he added.
Mental Strength vs Physical Limits: Bumrah’s Battle with His Body
Jasprit Bumrah had suffered a back spasm during the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney, which kept him out of action for over three months. He even had to miss the Champions Trophy because of that injury.
To manage his fitness, it was decided that Jasprit Bumrah would only play three Tests in the England series. But even in those matches, his pace has gradually gone down, raising concerns about his long-term role in red-ball cricket.
Mohammad Kaif has now suggested that fans might need to prepare for a future without Jasprit Bumrah in Tests, hinting that the star fast bowler could retire from the format sooner rather than later.
“But the speed, he is throwing the ball at a speed of 130-125. And the wicket he got, the catch that the keeper took, he also caught it by diving. His passion is the same. But he has lost to his body. He has lost to his fitness. His body is not supporting him,” said Kaif.
“His failure in this Test match clearly shows that I feel there will be problems in the Test matches. You may not see him playing. First, Virat Kohli went. Then Rohit Sharma went. Ashwin is not there. Now, without Bumrah, get used to it, Indian fans. I feel that you will have to get used to watching Test matches without him as well,” he added.
Bumrah to retire from tests? pic.twitter.com/PnMR2y6oEi
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) July 26, 2025
The former Indian batter also added that while Jasprit Bumrah still has the hunger to play and his mind is as sharp as ever, his body seems to be letting him down, and that’s a battle he’s finding tough to win.
“I pray that my prediction is wrong. But what I saw in this Test match, I feel that he is not enjoying himself. His mind his sharp, but he has lost to his body,” Kaif concluded.
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