England opener Ben Duckett has reportedly deactivated his X account (formerly Twitter) after his remarks on India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah stirred reactions online. Duckett, in a recent interview, stated that having faced Bumrah before, he is well aware of the challenges posed by the Indian pacer and, therefore, won’t be caught off guard when England hosts India for a five-match Test series later this year.
His comments, which also included praise for Mohammed Shami’s red-ball skills, quickly gained traction. While acknowledging the threat Bumrah presents, Duckett asserted that prior experience against the bowler has given him a sense of what to expect. Defending his statement, he clarified that he never claimed he would necessarily succeed against Bumrah and urged critics to read the full article before making assumptions.
Following the backlash, screenshots of his responses on X began circulating online, and shortly after, his account was deactivated.
Bumrah had dismissed Duckett once during England’s five-match Test series in India last year, a tour in which the fast bowler played a pivotal role in securing a 4-1 series win for India. Despite spinners dominating the series, Bumrah’s 19 wickets in four matches made him the third-highest wicket-taker.
Duckett also expressed his confidence ahead of India’s upcoming visit, suggesting that while India is formidable on home soil, they are not as dominant when playing away. He believes England has a strong chance of securing a series victory on home turf.
