Indian spin stalwart Ravichandran Ashwin praised speedster Jasprit Bumrah for his exceptional performance during the second Test against England, highlighting him as the true standout with his “Boomball” display. Despite England taking a 1-0 lead in the series with a victory in the first Test at Hyderabad, Bumrah’s precise yorkers and ability to create pressure thwarted England’s aggressive “Bazball” strategy in the second Test at Visakhapatnam, which India won by 106 runs.
Bumrah’s outstanding nine-wicket haul, including a six-wicket burst in the first innings, earned him the ‘Player of the Match’ award and propelled him to the top of the world rankings for Test bowlers, surpassing Ashwin.
In a discussion on his YouTube channel, Ashwin described Bumrah’s ascent to the top spot as a monumental achievement, emphasizing his remarkable bowling performance. Ashwin also commended young batsman Shubman Gill for his century in the second Test, breaking a streak of 12 Test innings without a fifty-plus score. According to Ashwin, Gill’s talent is undeniable, and his century silenced his critics.
Ravi Ashwin said, “Boomball is the real show stealer. I’m a big fan of Jasprit Bumrah”. (Ashwin YT). pic.twitter.com/zn9yTNHWpN
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 10, 2024
“The real show stealer was BoomBall. Jasprit Bumrah has bowled extraordinarily. He is the leading wicket-taker with 14 wickets and also the number-one-ranked Test bowler. I am a huge fan of his and this is a Himalayan feat,” said Ashwin.
“There is no doubt about the amount of talent that Shubman Gill has. But the hundred justified just the kind of armour he had as a batter,” Ashwin added.
Reflecting on the match, Ashwin recalled the intense atmosphere on the fourth day but credited the team’s exceptional spirit, energy, and performance for their eventual victory. He likened the excitement of the series to England’s memorable Ashes triumph against Australia in 2005. Ashwin, on the cusp of reaching 500 Test wickets, highlighted the significance of the series and the team’s collective effort in securing victory.
“We came into the fourth day with it all being even-stevens. But our extraordinary vibe, energy and team performance helped us level the series 1-1. England played an exciting Ashes series against Australia in 2005 and I followed that with great interest. I am getting a similar feeling of excitement about this series as well,” said Ashwin.
The third Test is set to start from February 15 onwards from Rajkot
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