Former Indian wicket-keeper batter turned commentator and cricket analyst Dinesh Karthik has boasted about Jasprit Bumrah and his abilities and has slammed critics howling over Bumrah for having missed crucial games in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
Despite India winning the series against England, India star pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been under constant criticism for having missed the final Test match, which was a decisive game from India’s point of view. Bumrah had also missed the Edgbaston Test, which was also a very crucial match after England took an early lead at Headingley.
The Indian fans have been let down by Bumrah on many occasions in this series, as he was not at his very best since he could not pose an imminent threat to the English batters, despite having picked 14 wickets in the series.
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Dinesh Karthik backs Bumrah against critics
Bumrah played just 3 games in the England series, just like he had announced before the onset of the series, in order to keep a check on his growing workload, which often leads him to injuries.
Since he had to bear attack after attack, former Indian wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik rushed to Bumrah’s defence and praised the veteran bowler’s role in the Indian team.
“You have to look at it from Jasprit Bumrah’s point of view. I think that these kinds of wins, the way the series has panned out, the way the young team has fought will actually help him in his career.”
“I believe Jasprit Bumrah will be very proud of this young bowling attack, and knowing him, he is not someone who shies away from pressure, big matches,” Dinesh Karthik said on Cricbuzz.
“Boss, he is in the ground, as a captain, any big moment, you go to Jasprit Bumrah; you want a wicket, go to Jasprit Bumrah; you want a 5-an-over in a T20 match, you go to Jasprit Bumrah. If you are bowling with a bad, old ball, which is 25 overs old in an ODI and want a wicket, go to Jasprit Bumrah. That is the name he has earned, and he rightly deserves to be called that,” he added.
‘India losing, not Bumrah’s mistake’ – Dinesh Karthik’s massive claim in Bumrah’s favour
Defending Bumrah, Dinesh Karthik mentioned that if India does not win matches in the absence of Bumrah, it’s not the bowler’s fault.
“Now this stat of when he doesn’t play, India does not win. It’s not his mistake. He is so impactful that otherd pale in comparison at times which is understandable. He is a world champion,” said Dinesh Karthik.
“…And at times, it’s unfair. It’s a body, he knows what he has gone through. 2 back injuries, one nasty ACL he had in 2014. It’s not easy and sometimes I feel we have to cut him some slack as well,” Dinesh Karthik added.
He also drew parallels between Bumrah and legendary bowlers in the past who are regarded with respect even after having retired from the game decades ago.
“When he finishes cricket, he will be spoken in the same parlance as a Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Dale Steyn. And I hope he will have a longer career knowing that I can pick and choose matches when I feel I am ready because there is no more pressure that I am the only one and at every match, I have to play….,” concluded Dinesh Karthik.
A Few Critics noted that India won matches only without Bumrah in England
Jasprit Bumrah’s performance in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy had taken a sheer dig from his previous dominance during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Considerably, the Australian tracks were more friendly for the bowlers.
Bumrah looked in considerable struggle throughout the series; however, the struggle was not in picking wickets for the maestro but in choking the opposition with his tight spells. This was because Bumrah bowled in too short spells, often letting the opposition play him out for that span and continue the onslaught from the other end.
Among many critics, the most recent came from former Indian seamer Irfan Pathan, who claimed excess cautiousness over Bumrah’s workload has reduced his efficiency and dimmed his presence as the World’s no. 1 Test bowler.
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