As India and England prepare to kick off their ICC World Test Championship campaigns this Friday with the first of a five-match Test series, anticipation is building for what promises to be a challenging red-ball contest. Indian players have been fine-tuning their skills with warm-up matches and an intra-squad game, but much of India’s hopes will undoubtedly rest on the shoulders of their premier pacer, Jasprit Bumrah. England batter Jos Buttler certainly seems to think so, asserting that there’s no bigger star in the Indian touring party than the right-arm fast bowler.
“I don’t think there’s a bigger star in that touring squad than Jasprit Bumrah,” Jos Buttler shared with Stuart Broad on the For the Love of Cricket podcast.
Buttler, who has faced Bumrah multiple times in both international cricket and the Indian Premier League, elaborated on what makes the Indian speedster so formidable. He believes Bumrah’s distinctive run-up and unorthodox action create significant challenges for batters, particularly right-handers like himself.
“…facing him (Bumrah), he creates awkward angles, the run-up is unique, the action is unique. I think I have seen the side-ons (bowlers), but he delivers the ball from about a foot or even a bit more closer to the batsman than the average bowler, so the ball feels quicker even than the pace he is actually bowling at,” Buttler explained.
He further described the disorienting experience of facing Bumrah: “For me as a right-hander, it always felt like it was coming in, but he could beat me on the outside, and you sort of find yourself in a horrible position, squared up and a bit of a sitting target.”
Ultimately, Buttler believes that for England to effectively counter India’s threat in the upcoming series, they will have to master the challenge posed by Jasprit Bumrah.
Are you excited for the upcoming Ind-Eng test series?
