England Must Be Thinking They Were Better Off Without Irking Jasprit Bumrah, Says Zaheer Khan

Former India pacer Zaheer Khan praised Jasprit Bumrah for his batting in the 2nd innings of India vs England Lord’s Test. He also said that England must be regretting irking the Indian pacer on the field. When Jasprit Bumrah came out to bat with India railing at 208-8 at Lord’s, England pacers engaged in a verbal banter with him.

However, the right-arm pacer stood firmly against all the English players and smashed an incredible partnership of 89 runs with Mohammed Shami. Bumrah also smacked unbeaten 34 runs that comprised three boundaries. Shami, on the other hand, slammed an unbeaten half-century of 56 runs.

England Must Be Thinking They Were Better Off Without Irking Jasprit Bumrah: Zaheer Khan

While speaking to Cricbuzz post the match, former Indian cricketer Zaheer Khan mentioned that England would be regretting their decision of irking Jasprit Bumrah.

“Now England must be thinking: ‘Should have let Bumrah bowl bouncers, we were better off without irking him.’ The intensity he has bowled with is immensely praiseworthy,” Khan said.

Also Read: Don’t Mind Bit Of Banter, But If You Go After One Of Our Guys, All 11 Will Come Right Back: KL Rahul After India’s Test Triumph At Lord’s

The former left-arm pacer also argued that if that’s the Jasprit Bumrah carries himself when he is angry, he should get into squabbles more often during matches.

“If that’s the way he’s (Jasprit Bumrah) going to carry himself on the field when angry, then he should get into such squabbles more often! Because, see, he went wicketless in the first innings and the class of bowlers he’s of, he must be livid by that too.

“Then the chats with Anderson on the field after those bouncers, how all the England players came at him when he was batting, all those things definitely motivate you and he channelized the anger perfectly,” Zaheer further said.

England players were particularly annoyed with the right-arm pacer for attacking James Anderson with deadly bouncers during the 1st innings. One of the deliveries also hit the 39-year-old England pacer on the helmet. Bumrah, who went wicketless in the 1st innings, scalped 3 wickets in the 2nd. He also picked the most crucial wicket of Joe Root, who has been showing commendable form in the series so far.

Against a target of 272, Indian pacers restricted England to just 120 in the 2nd innings, to bag the victory by 151 runs. India leads the 5-match Test series 1-0 after the completion of two games. India vs England 3 Test will commence on August 25 at Headingly, Leeds.