"I don't like.."- Jasprit Bumrah gives direct warning to Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum before the Test series

India’s senior pacer Jasprit Bumrah has made a bold claim about England’s philosophy of Bazball in Test cricket not threatening enough to scare him or any other bowler in the Indian team. Bumrah while speaking to the Guardian stated that he is expecting to take a lot of wickets in the series even if the English contingent score runs at a rapid pace.

Jasprit Bumrah is among the 4 pacers selected for the upcoming 5-match Test series starting from January 25th at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. He will lead the pace battery along with Mohammad Siraj and either Mukesh Kumar or Avesh Khan.

Although spinners have always had a sharper edge than pacers in Indian pitches the onus will be on the fast bowlers as well. An official BCCI source had claimed last week that no pacer will play all 5 Tests and that the rotation policy will be applied not just to manage their workload but also to give spinners more chances.

Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav are the 3 recognized spinners in the team and it won’t be a shock if the Rahul Dravid-led management names all 3 of them in the playing XI for the 1st Test in Hyderabad. Ashwin in particular will be the one to watch out for as he is just 10 wickets away from becoming just the second Indian to register 500 wickets and another 2 will make him the first bowler from the country to scalp 100 wickets against the Three Lions.

As the Bazball style of Test cricket is awaiting to be tested in India for the first time since its inception, Rohit Sharma’s deputy Jasprit Bumrah feels that he doesn’t relate to the term even if it requires batters to go aggressively against bowling units.

“I don’t really relate to the term Bazball. But they are playing successful cricket and the aggressive route of taking the opposition on, showing the world there’s another way to play Test cricket.” – Bumrah said. 

Jasprit Bumrah Claims England’s Fast Style Of Play Won’t Faze Him From Implementing His Game

The 30-year-old pacer who is 10 wickets away from completing 150 wickets in Test cricket, feels that England’s mindset and ability to score runs rapidly won’t help them in intimidating him and not let him implement his game plan. Jasprit Bumrah believes that he can use their style of play to his advantage and feels that it will be a good challenge to have.

“As a bowler, what I think is that it keeps me in play. And if they are going for it, playing so fast, they won’t tire me out, I could get heaps of wickets. I always think about how I can use things to my advantage. Kudos to them but as a bowler, you are in the game.” – Jasprit Bumrah concluded.

Meanwhile, the English team after undergoing an 11-day camp in Abu Dhabi have arrived at Hyderabad and they have started their practice in the nets. The likes of Ben Stokes, James Anderson, and Joe Root among others were seen sweating it out on the nets.