Jasprit Bumrah has been India’s real impact bowler in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav has used him in different phases and the ace pacer has certainly delivered for the team, claiming 10 wickets in 7 matches so far at an economy rate of 6.62.

Bumrah, who was the Player-of-the-Tournament in India’s 2024 T20 World Cup triumph, bowled a stunning spell (1/33 in 4 overs) in the semifinal win over England on a placid Wankhede Stadium pitch. He will be keen to produce one more match-winning performance to help India defend the coveted title.

The Men in Blue are due to face New Zealand in the tournament final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday (March 8).

Ahead of the title clash, former Australia skipper Michael Clarke has hailed Jasprit Bumrah as the best bowler in the world, while also predicting India’s strike fast bowler to win the Player-of-the-Match accolade in the final.

"One thing is having so many options (variations), but most importantly, having the skills to execute under pressure. This is what makes him the best in the world. He has been a defining factor for India. I wouldn't be surprised if he is Man of the Match in the final. He's just so dominant," Clarke said while speaking on the Beyond23 cricket podcast.

Clarke highlighted Bumrah's excellence across all formats, calling him a ‘freak’ and ‘match-winner’.

"India are the standout team in this tournament. They have been absolutely brilliant. We probably haven't spoken much about him throughout this World Cup campaign, because we now just expect it. Bumrah. He is just a freak. All three formats, he is, by a distance, the most important player in the world in all three formats. He is a match-winner. He bowls the most difficult overs. Run-saving machine, wicket-taker, execution under pressure is better than anybody in world cricket," Clarke stated.

The Australian legend further remarked: "He's got so many different skills. It's like when you see the best batters, we always talk about how they make runs under pressure, but they do it in different conditions around the world. Bumrah does that. He wins games in all different conditions and at different stages of the game. If I was captaining him, my biggest challenge would be when to use him. That's why they don't look to open the bowling with him and you want two overs from him at the death."