Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan showered praise on Jasprit Bumrah for his stellar show in the Border-Gavaskar trophy against Australia. Despite Bumrah’s heroics, India suffered a six-wicket loss at the SCG on Sunday and conceded the series by 3-1.
Bumrah bagged 32 wickets in five Test matches of the series at an unbelievable average of 13.06 and thus was awarded Player of the Series for his scintillating show.
It was a shame that the Indian gun fast bowler didn’t bowl in the second innings in Sydney and Australia was able to chase down 162 with ease in the end. Bumrah was ruled out in the second innings due to a back spasm.
“Since he came back from surgery, he could have bowled at more than 140 kph whenever he wanted. You didn’t see him bowl 140 kph regularly because he knew he was the lone workhorse. So the average speed was around 136 kph,” Irfan Pathan said on Star Sports.
Pathan said Bumrah was quicker against Sam Konstas after having a confrontation with the youngster.
“When (Sam) Konstas pushed him, his balls were going at 141 kph, and when the rest of the batters were playing, he was changing his speed and troubling them at 136 kph also. So the speedometer’s keys were in his hands,” the former India all-rounder added.
The former Indian all-rounder said former Australian pacers – Damien Fleming and Glenn McGrath – rated Bumrah as the best tourist bowler on the Australian shores.
“Glenn McGrath, Damien Fleming and I were sitting with the members on the morning of the first day. Fleming and McGrath said in front of everyone that they had to date not seen a bowler on Australian soil like Jasprit Bumrah, who picks up wickets in every spell and keeps their Australian batters scared,” he said.
Pathan highlighted how Bumrah troubled Travis Head, Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Marsh consistently in the series.
“He got Travis Head out twice in a match and regularly kept the pressure on him. Mitchell Marsh was a walking wicket in front of him. Usman Khawaja got out to him six times in five matches. Jasprit Bumrah comes, Usman Khawaja goes, we got to see that regularly. It’s not enough no matter how much you praise him,” Pathan observed.
It will be interesting to note the magnitude of Bumrah’s back injury with Champions Trophy on the cards.
