Most people regard T20 cricket as a "batter's graveyard", but when discussing the best T20 player of all time, everyone immediately returns to talking about how good the top power hitters are. Although Chris Gayle and his brute force, or Virat Kohli's ability to play the ball exactly where he wants, are two names that often come up, when you add AB de Villiers (a man who has truly changed the game with both his skill and knowledge of the mechanics of batting) to the discussion of who is the best T20 player, everyone in the cricketing world will stop and listen.
However, de Villiers has chosen to deviate from this trend of only referring to the best T20 power hitters and has chosen instead to name a bowler (Jasprit Bumrah) as the top player in T20 cricket.
The "Ironic" Choice: AB De Villiers Crowns Bumrah
Amid exploring the history of the 20-over format, De Villiers was posed a highly desirable query: who is T20 G.O.A.T.? His rejoinder was as incisive as his famous ramp shots.
"It will be a quite unexpected answer, " De Villiers smiled and said, "as I actually think its Jasprit Bumrah.
The reason for this choice comes down to just how much Bumrah can do on the field. Most bowlers have a comfort zone they stick to early overs or show up at the end. Bumrah isn’t like that. He’s reliable no matter when you throw him the ball.
AB de Villiers pointed out how Bumrah stays sharp and calm, even when the heat is on. New ball swinging, old ball reversing, or the nerve-wracking mess of a Super Over, it doesn’t matter. Bumrah gives his captain a way out every single time.
Why the Bowler is the New King of T20
The “greatest” tag used to belong mostly to those players that were known to clear the ropes. As the game has progressed, so too has the value of a dot ball when chasing 200-plus runs become valuable; nearly worth their weight in gold. AB De Villiers’ endorsement of Jasprit Bumrah cannot only be viewed as a sign of respect between two peers, but should also be viewed as a sign of how much the philosophy behind T20 cricket is changing. In a game that emphasises batting at all angles (360 degrees), the player that remains ‘un-hittable’ will be considered the best player (MVP).
As we look to the next cycle of global events, the ‘Bumrah Factor’ will be the yardstick by which all other bowlers’ performances are measured. He does not simply participate in the game; he dictates how the game is played, through his yorkers.
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