Mumbai, March 6 (NationPress) Former South African captain Faf du Plessis showered accolades on Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, labeling him a coveted 'superpower' for any captain after the speedster played a pivotal role in India's exhilarating semi-final triumph against England in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 at Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.

In a match filled with high scores, Bumrah emerged as a standout performer with the ball, as both teams surpassed the 240-run mark, leading India to a memorable 7-run victory and a spot in the tournament final.

Commenting on Bumrah’s prowess under pressure, du Plessis remarked, “Team India is fortunate to have him as part of their squad. Time and again, he proves his worth, regardless of the format. Just hand him the ball, and he has the ability to clinch victories. It’s a superpower that any captain would desire; it’s like having a genie—just rub the lamp, and Bumrah appears,” du Plessis expressed to ESPNcricinfo.

In this run-scoring extravaganza where a total of 499 runs were accumulated, Bumrah allowed only 33 runs at an impressive economy rate of 8.25 while securing a crucial wicket. His disciplined bowling came during critical moments of England’s innings, particularly in the fifth, 11th, 16th, and 18th overs.

Du Plessis also pointed out that Bumrah’s distinctive bowling action makes him extremely challenging for batsmen to read, even when he deviates from his intended length.

“In that final over, they anticipated either a full delivery, yorker, or a slower ball. He delivered two low full tosses, and both times, Sam Curran was late to react. Any other bowler missing length like that would concede six runs, but Bumrah manages to get the job done,” du Plessis elaborated.

“His action is so distinctive that it’s hard to gauge how quickly the ball leaves his wrist. It’s a talent, but it also holds a sense of mystery akin to what Lasith Malinga offered in his prime. This uniqueness makes it incredibly difficult for batsmen to line him up, especially when he misses his mark,” the former South African captain added.

Du Plessis further acknowledged India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav for his strategic deployment of Bumrah during the tense concluding phases of the match.

“Bumrah holds immense value throughout the innings, but his true superpower shines in the crucial moments when the game is on the line,” du Plessis said.

“Today, they utilized him perfectly; commendable captaincy and leadership. When the match required him to come into play to reduce the run rate and secure wickets, he was introduced at the most opportune times. It’s easy to critique from the sidelines, but that was spot-on captaincy,” he added.

India is now set to face New Zealand in their second consecutive T20 World Cup final, scheduled to take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.