Jasprit Bumrah once defended 12 runs in Super Over against Brendon McCullum and Aaron Finch despite bowling one no ball and a wide

In a 2017 IPL thriller, Jasprit Bumrah, despite bowling two extras, defended 12 runs in a Super Over for Mumbai Indians vs. Gujarat Lions.

Jasprit Bumrah once defended 12 runs in Super Over against Brendon McCullum and Aaron Finch despite bowling one no ball and a wide

Jasprit Bumrah defended 12 runs in a Super Over for Mumbai Indians, against Gujarat Lions in 2017. (via Hindustan Times)

Throwback to 2017, when Mumbai Indians speedster Jasprit Bumrah emerged as the unlikely hero in a thrilling IPL contest between MI and Gujarat Lions. Bumrah successfully defended 12 runs in the Super Over to help his side claim an impressive win, despite bowling two extras. 

The match between the two IPL sides took place at the Saurashtra Cricket Stadium in Rajkot, Gujarat, on 29 April, 2017. High-flying Mumbai Indians, who later went on to lift the 2017 IPL title, faced off Gujarat Lions, led by Suresh Raina. MI were already coming off the back of a flying start to the 2017 season, having won six out of their opening eight encounters. 

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Gujarat, batting first, posted a fairly competitive total of 153 runs in their 20 overs. Ishan Kishan was the top-scorer for the side, with 48 runs off 35 balls, as he helped cover up for a middle-order collapse. Ravindra Jadeja, James Faulkner and Andrew Tye were the others who scored in double-figures. For MI, Krunal Pandya scalped three wickets, while Jasprit Bumrah and Lasith Malinga got two wickets each. 

It seemed to be a comfortable chase for the table-toppers. However, opener Parthiv Patel was the only shining light in an otherwise woeful batting display by MI. The wicket-keeper batter scored 70 runs off 44 balls, as Mumbai appeared to be cruising to victory. However, a brilliant display of fielding and death-over bowling allowed Gujarat Lions to bounce back, as the match boiled down to the last over.

MI only needed a run off the final ball, but a run out pushed the game into the Super Over. Kieron Pollard and Jos Buttler walked out to bat in the Super Over. A four and a six by Pollard helped MI post a total of 11 runs in the over. A 23-year-old Jasprit Bumrah then stepped up to bowl. However, he faced a daunting challenge in having to defend just 12 runs, against the experienced Brendon McCullum and Aaron Finch. 

Bumrah disastrously began the over with a no ball, followed by a wide off second ball of the Super Over. Despite the initial setback, he regained confidence and delivered the unexpected. He gave away just three more runs in the over, to help his side win by five runs. Jasprit Bumrah kept his cool and delivered a mix of yorkers, slower ones and full tosses, to guide his team to its seventh win of the 2017 season. 

Moreover, Jasprit Bumrah, who has since then gone on to establish himself as one of the deadliest bowlers in the world, has a unique IPL record to his name. The 31-year-old pacer is the only bowler to have bowled four Super Overs in the competition’s history.

Rohit Sharma expresses concern about Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness, ahead of England tour

Indian captain Rohit Sharma highlighted his concerns about the fitness of the country’s two premier fast bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami. He hoped for the duo to come out of the ongoing IPL season, fit and ready for the five-match Test series in England, later this year. 

Rohit Sharma on Shami Bumrah
Rohit Sharma expressed concern over Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami’s fitness. (via News 18)

Speaking to Michael Clarke on his podcast, Sharma noted that Shami and Bumrah need to be at their best, amid the challenging year ahead. He highlighted the issues that bowlers face in the IPL, despite it being the shortest format of the game. Sharma exclaimed that the bowlers have to keep travelling and playing matches in the tournament, piling up pressure on them.

We need them to be 100 percent fit. We just have to make sure they come out of the IPL really well… That’s the tough part, because you’re travelling all across the country and playing so many games.

Rohit Sharma on Bumrah and Shami (H/T NDTV Sports)

Jasprit Bumrah most recently, made his return to playing, after having recovered from a back injury that he sustained against Australia in January. Shami on the other hand, had to undergo surgery for an ankle injury in 2024, that kept him out of action for a year.