MELBOURNE, DEC 30,
Skipper Virat Kohli rated Jasprit Bumrah as the “best (fast) bowler in the world” and someone even he would have been “scared to face” on a bouncy Perth wicket.
Courtesy Bumrah’s match haul of 9 for 86, India beat Australia by 137 runs in the third Test to take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the four-match series. “Jasprit obviously is the best bowler in the world, as per me. He is a match winner, without doubt, even if he has only been playing (Test cricket) for 12 months,” Kohli was lavish in his praise for the Gujarat bowler, who has taken 48 wickets in his memorable season in Test cricket.
The skipper then paid a rare compliment which possibly is the one that the pacer would treasure for the rest of his life.
“I mean if there was a pitch like Perth, I wouldn’t want to face Jasprit Bumrah to be honest because if he gets on a roll, he can really crank it up.
The way he bowls is so much more different to anyone and I think he realizes that more than the batsmen.
That’s why he is so confident about his skills,” the skipper said.
On Bumrah’s amazing fitness
Kohli said that it was Bumrah’s “amazing fitness levels and work ethic” along with skill set that prompted him and coach Ravi Shastri to seriously consider him for the Test series in South Africa.
