“What happens after Jasprit Bumrah?” - Ravichandran Ashwin raises concern over India’s bowling future
Published - 19 Mar 2026, 10:17 AM
Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has raised concerns about the future of the India national cricket team’s bowling attack. Ashwin highlighted the massive void that could emerge whenever Jasprit Bumrah decides to retire, questioning who will lead the bowling unit in an era dominated by batters.
Bumrah was last seen in action during the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 final, where the Men in Blue defeated New Zealand by 96 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 8. The right-arm pacer won the Player of the Match award following his exceptional bowling figures of 4/15 in his four overs.
What Happens After Jasprit Bumrah? - Ravichandran Ashwin Raises Concern Over Next-Gen Bowling
Speaking to RevSportz, Ravichandran Ashwin predicted that India will win multiple trophies over the next decade. However, the off-spinner stated that there is no replacement for Jasprit Bumrah in the bowling department.
"The pedigree of white-ball batters that we have is something else. I have no doubts that India will go on to win quite a few white-ball trophies over the next decade. That will be from our batting. What happens after Bumrah? He is a defining figure in this white-ball side," Ashwin said at the Trailblazers Conclave event.
I Am Worried Bowling Is Not As Attractive As Batting - Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin also raised concerns about the declining appeal of bowling, stating that batting dominates entertainment. The Tamil Nadu-born cricketer warned that fewer youngsters may choose bowling.
"I am worried bowling is not as attractive as batting and kids might not take up the sport for those reasons. When I say sport, I think bowling and batting are different sports. Bowling as a sport is not attractive enough. It’s like you are entertaining people, giving those sixes. So, who would really want to think that bowling will enable us to win tournaments or series," he added.
Jasprit Bumrah Remains Irreplaceable Despite Emerging Indian Bowling Talent
While emerging Indian bowlers like Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, and Auqib Nabi offer hope for the future, Jasprit Bumrah remains unmatched. The right-arm fast bowler has picked up over 500 wickets for the national team since his debut in 2016.
Bumrah finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker alongside Varun Chakaravarthy in the T20 World Cup 2026. The 32-year-old took 14 wickets in eight matches at an impressive economy rate of 6.21.
Bumrah will return to action for Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League 2026 season. The tournament will begin on March 28, with Mumbai Indians set to start their campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Wankhede Stadium on March 29.
Meanwhile, Bumrah is Mumbai Indians’ all-time leading wicket-taker in IPL history. He has taken 183 wickets in 145 matches at an average of 22.02, a strike rate of 18.2, and an economy of 7.24, including two five-wicket hauls, with best figures of 5/10.
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About the Author
Sai Vaitla is an author at Cricketaddictor and he has been working since September 2022. Sai Vaitla...
