New Delhi: Allegations of an illegal bowling action have once again been directed at India’s interim Test captain and pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah, by some cricket fans. However, experts, including former cricketers Greg Chappell and Ian Pont, have defended his technique, asserting that it complies with International Cricket Council (ICC) guidelines.
Bumrah’s unorthodox bowling style has consistently sparked debates throughout his career, with many accusing him of “chucking”. In 2022, he faced similar accusations after Pakistani bowler Mohammad Hasnain was reported for suspect action.
The controversy resurfaced during the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-2025 in India’s first Test match against Australia in Perth, where Bumrah took eight wickets, giving his team a crucial lead in the series. However, Australia eventually clinched the trophy by winning three out of five Test matches.
In the last Test match held in Sydney, Bumrah, who was pivotal to India’s winning chances throughout the series, was notably absent in the second innings due to back spasms, which prevented him from bowling a single over. India lost the match by six wickets.
Despite this setback, Bumrah was awarded the ‘Player of the Series’ for leading the charts with a total of 32 wickets, far surpassing Australian captain Pat Cummins.
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What experts are saying
In cricket, throwing or chucking is an illegal bowling action at the time of the bowler straightening his bowling arm while delivering the ball. If an umpire deems a ball as a throw, he calls it a no-ball, protecting the batsman from dismissal from that delivery.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) allows a maximum elbow straightening of 15 degrees for bowlers, applicable from shoulder height to the ball’s release. The limit accommodates the natural elbow flexing, as determined by biomechanical testing.
In 2022, explaining why Bumrah’s action is legal, former England cricketer and renowned bowling coach Ian Pont said, “You can see his arm straight from the wrist to elbow. The rule is when it is above the vertical that the elbow must not bend past 15 degrees. You can clearly see the forward flexion in his arm, which is a hyperextension. This is allowed (a forward bend) for people with hyper-mobile joints.”
“A hyperextension is a movement in a similar direction to the direction of movement – not downward or to the side. This is why Bumrah’s action is classified as legal since it is within the guidelines of hypermobility,” he added.
Speaking to ThePrint, Dr Kumar Satish Ravi, the editor-in-chief of the National Journal of Clinical Anatomy, said Jasprit Bumrah’s arm exhibited distinctive anatomical features, which contributed to his unconventional and highly effective bowling style.
Ravi observed that Jasprit Bumrah’s arm displayed a slight hyperextension at the elbow. This condition, he said, may be linked to several factors, such as naturally looser ligaments, referred to as ligamentous laxity, which allows for increased flexibility in the joints.
Additionally, the alignment of the humerus and ulna at the elbow joint, along with a shallower trochlear notch in the ulna, could also contribute to his extended range of motion, he concluded.
Ravi asserted that Bumrah’s hyperextension is within the legal limits of cricket regulations. This unique characteristic, he added, enhances Bumrah’s distinctive whip-like bowling action, providing added leverage, increased ball speed, and improved accuracy.
“Bumrah’s bowling action avoids the typical high-arm trajectory and follows a slightly angular path instead,” he added.
Bumrah’s distinctive throwing style, as Ravi noted, provides anatomical advantages. It effectively engages the triceps brachii and rotator cuff muscles to keep the arm in position and stabilize the shoulder. The unique angular motion reduces predictability, making it difficult for batters to accurately gauge Bumrah’s release point, Ravi explained.
He emphasised that Bumrah’s bowling action depends heavily on upper-body strength and core stability. His deltoid and trapezius muscles enable arm elevation and rotation, while the latissimus dorsi and serratus anterior contribute to explosive arm acceleration. The coordination of these muscles allows Bumrah to achieve high pace and accuracy, even with his compact action.
“I believe that the wrist and forearm positioning, combined with his high arm speed, contributes to late movement and ball deviation, making him particularly challenging for batters,” said Ravi.
According to Ravi, the quick, sling-shot motion minimises the reaction time for batters, leading to a more unpredictable release point. Unlike traditional fast bowlers, Bumrah’s ultra-compact action allows him to bowl with precision and conserve energy over long spells.
Sharing a cricketing perspective on Bumrah, Arun Singh, the former senior cricket coach at the Sports Authority of India and current chief coach of the Madhya Pradesh women’s cricket academy, broke down his fast bowling action.
“At the point of delivery he’s very stable. He is able to focus all the ground reaction forces behind the ball. His front foot placement adds to his stability allowing him to make adjustments to his length and generate high speeds of over 140 kph and above,” he said.
According to Singh, Bumrah has the ability to keep his muscles relaxed until the point of release, which is a unique trait. This relaxation allows him to generate more power, as rigid muscles can hinder the production of force.
Asked whether his biomechanics or body anatomy contributed to his injuries, Singh attributed his issues to workload management and prolonged series, rather than bowling action.
With Mohammed Shami’s fitness in question and Mohammed Siraj struggling for form, Bumrah became India’s most reliable bowler in the series, shouldering a heavy workload. However, he missed the final innings of the last test, where India had an opportunity to level the series, but ultimately fell short.
In a now-viral video, Bumrah is heard telling Rohit Sharma during a training session, “Bas abhi. Nahi lag raha hai zor. (Enough now. I am not able to push more]”, suggesting that the excessive workload had taken a toll on him.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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