Former India batting coach Abhishek Nayar described Jasprit Bumrah as a cheat code who never disappoints, following the fast bowler’s decisive spell in India’s five-wicket win over West Indies at Eden Gardens.
Bumrah’s game-changing 12th over saw him dismiss the dangerous Shimron Hetmyer and Roston Chase in quick succession, halting West Indies’ momentum just as they looked set for a massive total. The double breakthrough proved to be the turning point in a contest where the Caribbean side had fielded one of the tournament’s most formidable batting line-ups.
Although West Indies recovered through valuable contributions from Rovman Powell and Jason Holder to post 195/4, India successfully chased down the target. The victory was powered by Sanju Samson, whose unbeaten 97 anchored the innings and sealed India’s place in the next stage of the tournament.
“Jasprit Bumrah is a cheat code. You bring him with the new ball, in the middle overs, or at the death. He never disappoints. He always delivers. The wicket of Shimron Hetmyer set it up for India. Hetmyer was looking very dangerous in these conditions. As a fast bowler, you think yorker or bouncer,” said Nayar on Star Sports.
“But to bowl a length ball there and get a wicket is very difficult to execute. Then he bowled a brilliant slow ball to get rid of Roston Chase. That broke the back of the West Indies batting. Both batters were set. To get two set batters in one over just demoralises the opposition. Bumrah was brilliant as ever,” he added.
Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra echoed similar sentiments, stating that Bumrah’s figures of 2/36 did not fully reflect the magnitude of his impact in containing the West Indies. Chopra emphasised that while the numbers appeared modest on paper, Bumrah’s spell came at a decisive juncture of the innings.
“I keep saying that Bumrah is a genius. He is an asset and a national treasure. The way he controlled the innings, in the end it reads 2 for 36, but the roles we spoke about mattered more. Had he bowled the first and the third over, the numbers from an economy perspective might have looked even better, but that is not what you need in the end. West Indies had the deepest batting line-up one can possibly have, and still they were four down and had not crossed 200. And yes, Jasprit Bumrah is the kind of bowler who does not let that happen,” said Chopra.
Get every cricket updates! Follow Us:
