The Science Behind Jasprit Bumrah's Deadly Bowling: Explained by an IIT Professor
Jasprit Bumrah has taken the cricketing world by storm with his unconventional bowling style and lethal deliveries. Unlike most fast bowlers, Bumrah’s approach to bowling is anything but traditional. With a short run-up, a slingy arm action, and an unusual release point, he poses a unique challenge to batsmen. However, beyond these visible traits lies a world of complex science, unraveled by Professor Sanjay Mittal from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur. His analysis reveals that Bumrah’s effectiveness is not just a result of skill and athleticism but also a product of intricate aerodynamic principles.
At the core of Bumrah’s bowling is a combination of high speed and a nearly upright seam position. His deliveries are clocked at over 140 km/h and carry a rotational spin of about 1,000 revolutions per minute (RPM). This spin-to-speed ratio, known as the "spin ratio," is remarkably low—around 0.1. Such a low spin ratio moves the ball into an unusual aerodynamic state, triggering what is known as the reverse Magnus effect.
The Magnus effect is a well-known phenomenon in ball sports, where spinning balls deviate from their expected path due to pressure differences created by their rotation. In cricket, it typically helps bowlers swing or lift the ball. But Bumrah’s deliveries, with their low spin and high speed, defy this norm. The reverse Magnus effect applies a downward force, causing the ball to dip sharply just before reaching the batsman. This late dip is extremely hard to predict, often catching even experienced batsmen off guard.
What makes Bumrah truly deadly is how he harnesses this phenomenon consistently. The upright seam, pace, and subtle spin combine to create unpredictable swing and sudden dips. His yorkers, short balls, and length deliveries can all behave deceptively in the air. What appears to be a standard delivery can suddenly dip under the bat or crash into the stumps. This fusion of biomechanics and physics turns Bumrah into not just a world-class bowler, but a scientific marvel on the field.
