Ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final between the India national cricket team and the New Zealand national cricket team, former Australia captain Michael Clarke has backed Jasprit Bumrah to play a decisive role in the title clash.

Speaking on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast, Clarke said Bumrah’s ability to deliver under pressure makes him the most important bowler in world cricket right now.

“One thing is having so many options, 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.”

Bumrah has been one of India’s key performers in the tournament, taking 10 wickets in seven matches with an impressive economy rate of 6.63.

Clarke also stressed that Bumrah’s value goes beyond just this tournament, calling him the most impactful player in world cricket across formats.

“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. In all three formats, by a distance, he is the most important player in the world. He is a match-winner. He bowls the most difficult overs, saves runs, takes wickets and executes under pressure better than anybody in world cricket.”

Clarke further explained that managing Bumrah would be the biggest challenge for any captain because of his ability to influence different stages of the game.

“He’s got so many different skills. Like the best batters who score runs under pressure in different conditions, Bumrah does the same with the ball. He wins games in different conditions and at different stages. If I was captaining him, my biggest challenge would be when to use him. That’s why teams don’t always open the bowling with him and instead keep overs for him at the death.”