Jasprit Bumrah vs Shaheen Shah Afridi: Stats comparison in India vs Pakistan T20 WC matches

As India and Pakistan gear up for their ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 clash in Colombo, the spotlight is on Jasprit Bumrah and Shaheen Shah Afridi. There is a comparison between the two first bowlers.

Both Jasprit Bumrah and Shaheen Shah Afridi have been one of the best premier first bowlers in the world currently.

Whenever India and Pakistan have faced each other in recent years, it often becomes a battle between one of the two fiercest new-ball bowlers in the world currently. As we look ahead at the India vs Pakistan clash in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 in Colombo, it again might become a battle between Jasprit Bumrah and Shaheen Shah Afridi. While Shaheen often provides the fire with early breakthroughs, especially against the right-handers, Jasprit Bumrah offers historical control and an impeccable ability to take wickets at any moment of the game. Here's how they stack up in head-to-head World Cup encounters.

How to watch the India vs Pakistan, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match online?

Cricket fans in India can watch the India vs Pakistan, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 match LIVE on Jio Hotstar, accessible via OTTPlay Premium.

Head-to-Head T20 World Cup stats

In T20 World Cups, Bumrah has been more consistent across multiple editions, while Shaheen’s impact is defined by a singular, tournament-altering spell in 2021.

Read also: ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Squad of every nation.

The defining spells | Bumrah vs Shaheen

Shaheen’s "first over" magic (Dubai, 2021)

Shaheen Shah Afridi's legacy in the India vs Pakistan rivalry was cemented in just six deliveries. In the 2021 T20 World Cup, he produced arguably the most famous opening spell in T20I history, dismissing Rohit Sharma for a Golden Duck and then KL Rahul in his first two overs.

Shaheen's ability to swing the ball back into the right-hander at over 140kmph pace is still Pakistan's greatest weapon in the bowling line-up.

If Abhishek Sharma does not play and Sanju Samson opens the batting with Ishan Kishan, his in-swingers might become a little one to handle for the Kerala batter.

Read also: India vs Pakistan head-to-head in T20 World Cup history.

Bumrah’s "Low-Score" Masterclass (New York, 2024)

If Shaheen Shah Afridi is about the opening spell, Jasprit Bumrah is about the squeeze and the finish. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, India was defending a small total of 119, and Bumrah produced a spell of three wickets for 14 runs, including a crucial wicket of Mohammad Rizwan when Pakistan was on the verge of winning.

His economy rate of 3.50 in that match showcased why he is regarded as one of the most feared and difficult bowlers to score against in any situation of the game.

Moreover, it's not about the wickets; it's about when he gets those wickets that is what makes Jasprit Bumrah one of the greatest ever.

Read also: India vs Namibia T20 World Cup 2026: Will Bumrah and Abhishek Sharma play?

Historical nuances

Until the Asia Cup 2025, Jasprit Bumrah had a staggering record of bowling nearly 400 deliveries to Pakistani batters in international cricket without getting hit for a single six. That streak was famously broken by Pakistani opener Sahibzad Farhan during the Asia Cup.

Read also: India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026: Date, time, venue, live streaming details.

Meanwhile, Shaheen has a better strike rate in the first power play than Jasprit Bumrah, who often picks up a wicket every 13 balls inside the first 6 overs. However, it is Bumrah's death over economy of 6.20 in T20Is that is vastly superior to Shaheen's 8.90, making Bumrah a more reliable option in the final overs.

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