XtraTime Web Desk: Jasprit Bumrah, who finished the two-Test series in the Caribbean with 13 wickets, including 5/7 in the first Test in Antigua, came in for plenty of praise from his captain Virat Kohli.
Bumrah was the pick of a strong bowling attack, averaging a remarkable 9.23. With Ishant Sharma (11 wickets) and Mohammed Shami (nine wickets) as effective, India brushed aside West Indies with little fuss. While Bumrah picked up a career-best 6/27 in the first innings in Jamaica, he was in some pain in the second, and Kohli praised him for playing through it and supporting the other bowlers.
“We’re really lucky to have him in our team,” Kohli told reporters after the win in the second Test on Monday, 2 September. “Very rarely do you find a pack of bowlers who are hunting together and bowling for each other, bowling in partnerships.”
“When he [Bumrah] gets some kind of momentum, you can see what he can do in five-six overs with the new ball, which you saw in the first innings. I haven’t seen many more lethal spells than that two spells in the last couple of Tests. Standing in slips, you can feel for the batsman who’s playing him. He confuses them with angles, with swing, he will set up for the out-swinger and then bowl the in-swinger. It’s coming at pace and then he can hit you with bouncers as well.
“I think he’s the most complete bowler in world cricket now.”
The rise of the bowler, who made his Test debut in January 2018, has been rapid, and he’s making strides up the MRF Tyres ICC Test Rankings for Bowlers. Kohli put it down to not only his considerable skill, but also a hunger to be the best.