Who is the best death bowler in T20 cricket?

You’ve got two options: Jasprit Bumrah or Mustafizur Rahman. You might feel irritated if you can't vote. You might wonder, "How can you compare these two?" In the current scenario, there’s no real comparison to be made.

One has elevated himself to an exceptional level, while the other needs everything to fall into place to shine. However, there was a time when these two were frequently compared, and it often happened in the IPL.

Let’s go back to the 2016 IPL season. Mustafizur Rahman was representing Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Jasprit Bumrah was playing for Mumbai Indians. Both were emerging stars, and the debate about who was better, especially in the death overs, was a common topic of discussion.

During a match between Hyderabad and Mumbai, the IPL officials even turned to the audience for their opinions. Do you know how many votes Mustafiz received? Although he didn’t win, he earned 48% of the votes, a notable share, including many from Indian fans. But can we find anyone today who would still make such a comparison? Especially considering that Mustafiz can't even secure a spot in the Pakistan Super League anymore. No team picked him in the recent draft, and IPL teams have turned their backs on him as well. Even in the national team, his impact is no longer what it once was. He can bowl his 4 overs, but they don't seem to create any fear.

Take the ongoing BPL season, for instance. In seven matches, Mustafiz has taken just seven wickets. He hasn’t played a match-winning role with the ball. Dhaka’s bowling attack was already mediocre, and with Mustafiz unable to produce something special, how will they win? If he can't make an impact in a tournament like the BPL, what hope is there for him in other leagues?

You might argue that the pitches in this year’s BPL are batting-friendly, offering little help to bowlers. But here's the counter-question: which T20 league provides extra help for bowlers?

In the most recent IPL season, a total of 1,260 sixes were hit, whereas in this BPL season, only 342 sixes have been hit across 20 matches. With 26 more matches left, we might see 400 more sixes, but it still won't come close to the IPL’s numbers. The strike rate for batters in IPL was 150.58, while in the BPL, it's only 140.43. And in IPL, chasing a total of 200 runs is common, but it's a rare sight in the BPL. This trend is also visible in international T20 cricket. In the recent T20 series between India and Bangladesh, India scored 297 runs in one match. During that series, Mustafiz gave up 124 runs in 66 balls, with an economy rate of 11.27 and just 4 wickets. Why would anyone consider him for the IPL?

As a left-arm pacer, Mustafiz used to be more valuable. But when there’s no impact, how long can he continue? Sure, there’s a shortage of left-arm pacers in Bangladesh, but globally, that’s not an issue. In this year’s PSL draft, most teams found a left-arm pacer without Mustafiz. He’s nowhere to be found in either the IPL or PSL. So, where will Mustafiz play?

While T20 tournaments around the world are numerous, their quality may vary. However, Mustafiz has only played in a handful of leagues outside the IPL, like the PSL, LPL, and County cricket. He may have to focus on other leagues now. And if a player becomes a regular in lower-tier leagues, it’s often a sign that their career is coming to an end. At 29, is Mustafiz heading down this path?