'Not competition with James Anderson' - Jasprit Bumrah after stupendous performance in Vizag Test

India defeated England in the second Test of the five-match series to level the series 1-1 at Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Vishakhapatnam (Vizag). Jasprit Bumrah was elected as the Player of the Match for his brilliant performance with the ball. He took a six-fer in the first innings and three wickets in the second innings to seal the game in India’s favor and dominated the game on a batting-friendly pitch.

Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bat first in Vizag and India posted 396 in the first innings laying back on a sensational performance by Yashasvi Jaiswal who scored a double century in the first innings. It was a maiden Test double ton for the youngster as he scored 209 off 290 deliveries. In response, England was bundled for 253 as Jasprit Bumrah made the ball dance to his tune and took a figure of 6/45 in the innings and India took a 143-run lead after the first innings.

Jasprit Bumrah then took three wickets in the second innings as England was chasing 399 and sealed the match by uprooting Tom Hartley’s off stump in the match. He talked about his perfect yorkers, his relationship with the skipper Rohit Sharma, and competition with James Anderson. Bumrah also said that the numbers are just added baggage now as he doesn’t focus on them and wants to keep contributing to the team.

“As I said before, I don’t look at numbers. As a youngster, I did that and it made me excited. But now it’s an added baggage. As a youngster that is the first delivery I learned (yorker). Had seen the legends of the game. Waqar, Wasim and even Zaheer Khan. We’re going through a transition so I feel it’s my responsibility to help them in any way I can.”

“We discuss certain things. Have been playing with him for a long period of time (Rohit). No, not really (competition with Jimmy?). Before a cricketer, I’m a fast bowling fan. If somebody’s doing well, kudos to them. I look at the situation, at the wicket and think what are my options. I should not be a one-trick pony.”

Jasprit Bumrah Takes His Second Six-Fer This Year In Test Cricket

Jasprit Bumrah returned to Test cricket after one and a half years and has made an immediate impact since returning. He has taken two six-wicket hauls since his return in the longest format. The first six-wicket haul came against South Africa as he took 6/61 at the Newlands in Cape Town and now he has taken a six-fer again at Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Vizag.

India and England will now face each other in Rajkot at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium starting on February 15. The hosts lost the match in Hyderabad by 28 runs but now have made a good comeback in Vizag by defeating the visitors by a huge margin of 106 runs. Jasprit Bumrah dedicated his six-fer against England to his son Angad and hopefully, he will be fit and will play at his level best in the third Test in Rajkot.