Anil Kumble leaves Jasprit Bumrah behind, but Faf du Plessis crowns him GOAT pacer

In a quick round with ESPNCricinfo, some former international cricketers had to face a series of very tough questions: Who is the best fast bowler of all time, considering all three formats of the game?

Anil Kumble, Faf du Plessis, Yash Jha and Raunak Kapoor had to handle the rapid fire round. The central character of the equation was Jasprit Bumrah. According to the rules of the game, once an expert found a better bowler than Bumrah, he had to leave the room.

Jasprit Bumrah has been compared to some of the greatest pacers ever seen on this planet

The Indian pacer was compared to some of the great pacers of the game as the aim of the game was to find the best pacer of all time in the history of cricket. While Jha and Kapoor left the room early, Kumble and Plessis stayed in the room for a long time.

Ultimately, it was former South African captain Faf du Plessis who refused to leave the stage. He was the only one in the room who believed that Jasprit Bumrah is the best pacer of all time.

In the rapid fire round, the Indian fast bowler was compared with Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka), Kagiso Rabada (South Africa), Trent Boult (New Zealand), Kapil Dev (India), Allan Donald (South Africa), Josh Hazelwood (Australia), Mohammad Asif (Pakistan), Stuart Broad (England), Pat Cummins (Australia), Shaun Pollock (South Africa), Brett Lee (Australia), Ian Botham (England), Waqar Younis (Pakistan), Courtney Walsh (West Indies), James Anderson (England), Richard Handlee (New Zealand), Mitchell Starc (Australia), Curtly Ambrose (West Indies), Dale Styen (South Africa), Glenn McGrath (Australia), Malcolm Marshall (West Indies), Wasim Akram (Pakistan) and Dennis Lillee (Australia).

Faf du Plessis chose Jasprit Bumrah

Of all the above mentioned greats, Faf du Plessis chose Jasprit Bumrah as the best of all time. Although Kumble left the chat as soon as West Indies legend Malcolm Marshall’s name cropped up in the discussion.

Faf Du Plessis rates Jasprit Bumrah as the greatest fast bowler of all time. Bro knows the ball. pic.twitter.com/tXng2ZxQYd

— RATNISH (@LoyalSachinFan) February 27, 2026

Why did Plessis choose the current Team India pacer? He explained that since the discussion was valid for the T20I format, he had to choose Bumrah.

“Since the greats of the game did not play T20, it is difficult to judge them against someone who is so effective in T20,” Plessis explained why they are retaining Bumrah in particular.

Plessis especially mentioned legendary Pakistani pacer Wasim Akram

Although the former international cricketer mainly mentioned Wasim Akram after the match. He acknowledged Pakistani legends yorkers in death overs, and his trademark reverse swing.

“But all those guys, I mean, I think especially Wasim Akram with his yorkers at the death. But the ball used to swing back a lot. It doesn’t swing that much… Bumrah is my number one,” Faf du Plessis concluded the conversation.

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