Mitchell Starc stood with his hands on his hips, appearing somewhat bewildered and perplexed. He had just been hit hard—conceding 4, 6, and 4 runs off consecutive deliveries during his second over, facing a young Indian batsman with whom he had previously competed in five Tests not long ago. Yashasvi Jaiswal emerged as one of the few bright spots for India during their unsuccessful tour of Australia over the winter, and the left-handed opener showcased his prowess against the Australian left-arm pacer in Delhi on Wednesday night, initiating the Rajasthan Royals' chase of 189 runs for victory against the Delhi Capitals with a 19-run over.

An hour and a half later, Starc wore a broad smile as his teammates returned from various positions on the field, eagerly exchanging high-fives with the towering 1.97-meter fast bowler. He possesses the remarkable ability to transition from the ordinary to the extraordinary within a matter of hours, overs, or even balls.

Starc had just salvaged what seemed to be a lost cause. While he had not yet won the overall contest, he had triumphed in this particular battle, pushing the match into a Super Over with two of the most impressive closing overs under significant pressure. Delivering one yorker after another, he allowed only 16 runs in his final two overs, with eight runs in each. This performance meant that Rajasthan Royals concluded their innings at 188 for four, propelling the game into a decider for the first time in IPL 2025.

The yorker is regarded as one of the most lethal and devastating deliveries in cricket. Although it may appear straightforward to execute with practice—aiming low and targeting the batter's toes, reminiscent of legends like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and 'slinga' Lasith Malinga—it demands considerable effort from the bowler. It places immense strain on the core, and the margin for error is minimal, especially in today's game where batters often step deep into the crease, redefining the concept of length. Delivering two yorkers in succession with precision and aggression requires exceptional skill, control, and courage. To achieve twelve in a row? That is truly extraordinary.

Mitchell vs Jasprit Bumrah

Observing Starc perform his duties with minimal fuss inevitably leads to comparisons that may not be entirely appropriate. In this case, the focus shifts to Jasprit Bumrah, who, despite dealing with a hyperextended right elbow and a delayed release point, remains the leading fast bowler globally across all formats, thanks to his remarkable skill set.

Bumrah's adaptability is well-known, yet it is worth noting that he played a pivotal role, alongside Mohammed Shami, in propelling India to the 2023 50-over World Cup final from a bowling standpoint. Seven months later, his significant contribution to India's success in the T20 World Cup was acknowledged when he received the Player of the Tournament award. During the winter series in Australia, he outperformed everyone, including teammates and rivals, by taking 32 wickets in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, earning the Player of the Series title despite his team's 1-3 defeat in the Test series.

At his peak, Bumrah is nearly impossible to face. He clearly exhibits greater versatility than Starc. In addition to the devastating yorkers that Starc is known for, Bumrah possesses a variety of expertly disguised slower balls and a menacing bouncer that consistently catches batters off guard. He rarely has poor performances; when he concedes runs, it is typically due to exceptional batting rather than inaccuracies in his bowling. He serves as a reliable asset for the captain and a source of anxiety for opposing batters when he has a few overs left to bowl.

Choosing between Starc and Bumrah is a matter of personal preference, with no definitive right or wrong answer. However, the prospect of having both Starc and Bumrah together on the same team would be truly remarkable.

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