Australia vs India 2018: Virat Kohli Lavishes Praise on Jasprit Bumrah, Terms Him ‘Match-Winner’

Animated Team India skipper Virat Kohli is thoroughly impressed with the way young fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has stepped up—to rule the roost during the recently-concluded third Test of the four-match series against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Elated Kohli rated Bumrah as the ‘best’ pacer and ‘match-winner’ in contemporary cricket.

“Jasprit obviously is the best bowler in the world, as per me,” Kohli was quoted as saying by Press Trust of India.

Pertinently, having the unconventional action, Bumrah brought Australian batters to their knees. Bumrah, who disguised the slower ones quite well, knew what it takes to perform on the Australian soil while donning the whites.

“He is a match winner, without doubt, even if he has only been playing (Test cricket) for 12 months,” Kohli maintained.

Bumrah’s swansong:

Furthermore, Kohli revealed the impeccable rise of Bumrah has undoubtedly grabbed the eyeballs. The batting giant followed it up with a compliment for Bumrah, who would love to relish it for the lifetime.

Earlier, on the pacy and bouncy wicket like Perth, Bumrah bagged match haul of five for 92.

“I mean if there was a pitch like Perth, I wouldn’t want to face Jasprit Bumrah to be honest because if he gets on a roll, he can really crank it up,” Kohli said.

Moreover, on the back of Bumrah’s brilliant bowling performance apart from Cheteshwar Pujara’s gritty hundred, India took an unassailable lead of 2-1 by clinching the MCG Test convincingly by 137 runs.

Interestingly, clinical with the ball, Bumrah who’s improving by leaps and bounds bagged 48 Test wickets in just nine Test matches, so far. Kohli is further impressed with the way Burmah has transformed by doing basis right to deliver goods for the team.

“The mindset he (Bumrah) has is what separates him from anyone else in the world right now. He looks at the pitch, and he doesn’t think it’s a hard toil on these wickets. He thinks how can I take make a breakthrough for the team and your mindset separates you from the rest,” Kohli stated.

Bumrah is certainly a thinking bowler according to Kohli. The promising 25-year-old Ahmedabad-based bowler Bumrah walked off with nine-wicket match haul during the third and penultimate Test at ‘G’.

“The way he bowls is so much more different to anyone, and I think he realizes that more than the batsmen. That’s why he is so confident about his skills,” Kohli asserted.

In awe of Bumrah’s work ethics:

­­­­To talk about work ethics, Kohli further praised the efforts of Bumrah for setting the primary focus on his fitness. It eventually won him a Test cap in January 2018 against South Africa at Cape Town.

“I think the fact that he was showing amazing levels of energy and fitness in white-ball cricket. He was training like he wanted to play Test cricket. He was that obsessed about his fitness levels and his work ethics,” Kohli reiterated.

In addition to, Kohli revealed the success of Bumrah lies in his strength and dedication since he made his entry in the top-flight cricket. Kohli has also warned the batters to be wary of Bumrah, who aims to execute his plans to perfection.

“He is as strong headed as I have seen anyone in the past and that’s the key to his success. And that’s what I have seen in the past 12 months. The way he has matured and the areas he has bowled so quickly in his Test career I think it’s a scary sign for the batsmen around the world,” Kohli added.

Backs bowling department:

In conclusion, Kohli is satisfied with team contribution. He has lauded the efforts of the bowling unit, adding he is up for Plan B as a team leader.

“To be honest, in bowlers’ meeting, I usually just sit and listen. It is very important to understand what the bowlers are thinking. And then in that process, you think of plan B, and you communicate that to the bowlers. That’s how we operate,” Kohli concluded.

In a single calendar year, Bumrah alongside Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma have bagged 134 wickets in away conditions.

The fourth and final Test will commence from January 3 (2019) at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).