IND vs SL: Jasprit Bumrah Is A Game Changer, Showstopper With The Pink-Ball: Aakash Chopra

Jasprit Bumrah took eight wickets in the Pink-Ball Test against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru. On a track that assisted the spinners more than the pacers, Bumrah got the ball to talk and took 8 wickets including his first fifer at home. His spell of 5/24 helped India bowl out the Lankans for a paltry 109. In the end, India won the match by 238 runs.

Aakash Chopra, the former Indian opener while analysing the Test match lauded Jasprit Bumrah for his performance in the second Test. Bumrah was almost unplayable when the ball swung under lights with the Lankan side on the backfoot.

“Jasprit Bumrah – he doesn’t play at home, he plays very few matches at home but when he plays the pink-ball Test match, this guy is different. He makes things happen when nothing was happening. He is a game-changer, he is a showstopper” said Chopra about Bumrah.

Aakash Chopra further said that the Indian pacer has inspired a lot of young players to take up fast bowling in India courtesy of his unusual action.

“He bowls at a speed of 140 kph, inswinger, outswinger, bouncer, yorker, slower one – I mean he is a complete bowler.

“We are generally a batting country, we admire batters a lot but Jassi jaisa koi nahin, he makes it exciting for people wanting to see fast-bowling skills. He brings in anticipation about what he is going to do”

Chopra also highlighted the fact that Bumrah’s workload needs to be taken care of as he is a ‘national asset’. Bumrah now played back to back Tets series against South Africa and Sri Lanka. He ended the series as the second-highest wicket-taker with 10 wickets.

Jasprit Bumrah Is A National Asset: Aakash Chopra

“So many variations with that kind of control and that kind of speed, you don’t get that, he is that guy. It will be interesting how his workload is managed because you cannot play him all the matches, he is a national asset.”

Jasprit Bumrah will now be seen in the IPL for Mumbai Indians. He was one of the four players retained by the franchise. Mumbai play their opening game against Delhi Capitals on March 27 at the Brabourne Stadium.