Jasprit Bumrah's specific plan to disrupt Steve Smith with back-of-a-length deliveries outside off stump and targeted yorkers throughout the 2023 World Cup — including the final at Ahmedabad — produced one of the tournament's defining individual bowling-batting contests.
Steve Smith had averaged over 55 in ODI cricket across his career and was Australia's most technically correct batsman across formats. His slightly unconventional shuffle — moving his weight around in the crease — made him difficult to pin down with traditional strategies.
Jasprit Bumrah was the world's best ODI bowler in 2023 — his scrambled-seam deliveries, skiddy pace, and back-of-a-length bouncer from a wide crease were the most feared combination in 50-over cricket.
During the 2023 Cricket World Cup, Jasprit Bumrah developed a clear plan for Steve Smith — who had been in excellent form throughout the Australian campaign. Bumrah bowled a back-of-a-length delivery outside off stump then followed with a sharp yorker aimed at the off stump base. Smith's slight tendency to plant the front foot early made him vulnerable to the yorker targeting the off side of his foot. Bumrah dismissed Smith multiple times during the tournament through this sequence. In the final at Ahmedabad — which India lost to Australia — Smith's quick dismissal by Bumrah was one of India's few successes as Australia chased down 240 effectively.
Group stage: Bumrah dismisses Smith for 12 with back-of-a-length then sharp off-stump yorker
Australia vs South Africa semi-final: Smith has large score; building to a final return
World Cup Final: Bumrah dismisses Smith for 4 — Australia reeling at 47/3
Glenn Maxwell's 201* from 128 balls rescues Australia — Bumrah's Smith dismissal is negated
Australia win the final; Bumrah's individual success against Smith insufficient for team victory
2023-10-08
Group stage: Bumrah dismisses Smith with planned yorker sequence
2023-11-19
World Cup Final: Bumrah dismisses Smith for 4; Australia eventually win
“Every batsman has a plan. Smith likes to move around in the crease so I had to adjust. The yorker to his off stump was the key delivery.”
“Bumrah is the best bowler in the world. He dismissed me with quality deliveries. When you get out to the best, you accept it.”
Australia's World Cup win was primarily Maxwell's achievement against all probability — India were overwhelming favourites. Bumrah was player of the tournament despite being on the losing side — his 15 wickets at 18.06 were extraordinary.
Bumrah and Smith continued their contest in Tests. In the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar series, Bumrah was again India's most dangerous bowler against Australia's batting lineup.
Bumrah's plan against Smith was effective — dismissing him at key moments across the tournament. But Australia's victory in the final, with Smith contributing 4 quickly before Bumrah's dismissal then Maxwell taking over, showed that even perfect bowling plans can be part of a losing team's effort.
Bumrah's World Cup 2023 performance — including his systematic targeting of Smith — represents the definitive modern ODI bowling display: varied pace, scrambled seam, specific plans for specific batsmen. Even in a tournament India ultimately lost, Bumrah was its best individual bowler.
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