'He's like Messi or Ronaldo': Former England captain's jaw-dropping comparison for Jasprit Bumrah

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan was full of admiration for Jasprit Bumrah following the Indian pacer’s sensational performance in the final of the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup against New Zealand national cricket team in Ahmedabad last Sunday.

Bumrah delivered a historic spell, returning figures of 4 for 15 in the title clash. In doing so, he became the first fast bowler to claim a four-wicket haul in a knockout match in the tournament’s history. The performance also took his tally to 40 wickets across all his T20 World Cup appearances, the most by a pace bowler, achieved while maintaining an impressive economy rate of just 5.66.



During a discussion on the Stick to Cricket podcast, Vaughan made a bold claim, saying Bumrah is the finest bowler he has seen in all the years he has followed the game. The former England captain went as far as comparing the Indian speedster to global football superstars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, highlighting the kind of impact he can have on a team.

“Put Jasprit Bumrah in England's team and they win it,” he said.

Former England batter Mark Butcher quickly agreed with the assessment.

“I reckon if you put him in anybody's team, they’ll win it.”

“Exactly,” Vaughan added. “He’s probably like Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo — those kinds of players.”

However, the conversation took an interesting turn when former England cricketer David Lloyd reminded Vaughan of his earlier statement.

“Didn’t you say he is the best bowler you have ever seen?” Lloyd asked.

Vaughan stood firm on his opinion.

“Yes, he is. You’ve got to remember that I started watching or studying cricket in 1985, and he’s the best I’ve seen.”

Another former England captain, Alastair Cook, offered a slightly more measured perspective. While he acknowledged Bumrah as the leading multi-format bowler in world cricket today, Cook wondered whether the Indian pacer had produced a truly iconic match-winning spell in Test cricket.

“Is he the best in terms of match-winning spells in Test cricket? Without a shadow of a doubt, he is the best all-format bowler around, I think. I mean, you can safely say that. But has he, like, in a Test match bowled a spell like an 8/15, or is he not that kind of bowler?” he asked.

Vaughan, however, quickly defended Bumrah’s record.

“I’ve seen him a bit in Australia. Some of the spells have been different — that too on flat decks.”

Interestingly, statistics suggest Bumrah has indeed delivered several outstanding performances in the longest format. The Indian pacer has recorded eight or more wickets in a Test match on eight occasions, with six of those efforts coming on challenging overseas tours in England, South Africa and Australia. On three of those occasions, his performances also earned him the Player of the Match award.

For the complete match list, venues, and timings, check the full IPL 2026 schedule, fixtures, and team-wise match dates here.