“Several batters have dominated him” - Mohammad Kaif expresses major concern over star pacer’s form ahead of T20 World Cup 2026

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has raised concerns over ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah’s form. His remarks came after the second T20I against South Africa, played on Thursday, December 11, in Mullanpur.

Sent in to bat, the Proteas posted 213, and in reply, the hosts were bowled out for 162, suffering a heavy 51-run defeat. On Friday, December 12, reflecting on the match, Kaif spoke about Bumrah, who conceded 45 runs in his four-over spell.

He pointed out that almost all of Bumrah’s yorkers ended up as full tosses and called this a concern with the 2026 T20 World Cup approaching. The 45-year-old stated (via his YouTube channel):

“Even the new South African batters like Donovan Ferreira, who do not have big reputations, were hitting him. In the last couple of months, several batters have dominated him. There is no issue if someone hits a six off a good delivery, that happens, but the problem is that the balls he wants to bowl are not landing. That is a big question mark over Bumrah’s bowling at the moment.”

“I felt disappointed. And this is worrying because there is a World Cup coming in a month or so. Out of the six or seven balls he tried, all turned into full tosses. Some of those full tosses went for six. In my opinion, the way he bowled yesterday, missing his yorkers, that is a concern. He is a great bowler, but I have never seen him make so many mistakes,” he added.

In 2025, Bumrah has featured in 12 T20Is, taking 12 wickets in 10 innings at an average of 23.00, a strike rate of 18.5, and an economy rate of 7.42.

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“That is a concern” - Mohammad Kaif outlines major flaw in Axar Patel’s usage

In the same video, Mohammad Kaif highlighted a major flaw in Axar Patel’s bowling, noting that he is more effective against right-handers and is sometimes underused when left-handers are at the crease. This was evident in the second T20I against South Africa, when Quinton de Kock was batting and Axar bowled only three overs instead of completing his full quota.

Kaif added that if a team sends in only left-handed batters, Shivam Dube ends up as a sixth bowling option, despite not being a genuine all-rounder, which is a concern. Kaif said:

“With Axar Patel, there is a bit of a condition. If someone like de Kock is batting and he is set, then Axar cannot bowl all four overs. That is what happened in yesterday’s match. They held Axar back and did not let him complete his overs. That is a concern because Axar Patel is more effective against right handers. In my opinion, because you hold him back early, he cannot prepare mentally. You assume beforehand that against a left hander he will not be able to take wickets, so you decide not to bowl him.”

“Even in the IPL, this has happened many times with Delhi. When Shreyas Iyer was captain at Delhi Capitals, sometimes Axar bowled one over and then was not used again even though three overs were left. Someone else bowled instead. So this is another concern in this bowling attack. If a left hander comes in, Axar Patel will not be given the ball. Then your sixth bowler is Dube. Dube is still not a proper all rounder. He is still learning. He cannot match Hardik Pandya,” he added.

Axar has featured in 85 T20Is, taking 82 wickets at an average of 21.92, with a strike rate of 18.1 and an economy rate of 7.24.