Ben Stokes believes that Jasprit Bumrah is India's James Anderson.
Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah might not feel competitive pressure seeing England’s senior fast bowler James Anderson perform effortlessly even at 41 years old, but Ben Stokes sees many similarities between the two fast bowlers.
Stokes, England’s Test captain, particularly highlighted Bumrah and Anderson’s significant impact on the game whenever they're on the field after the duo shone brightly on the flat pitch in Visakhapatnam during the second Test match.
Notably, Anderson picked up five wickets during the second Test, while Bumrah snared nine wickets to help Team India win the game by 106 runs to level the ongoing five-match Test series against England.
Ben Stokes lauded Anderson and Bumrah and said that sometimes you have no option, but to put your hand up to someone like Indian pacer and say "what a player".
Stokes said on Jio Cinema: “You look at the way Jimmy Anderson and Jasprit Bumrah bowled this week, you are watching incredibly skilful bowlers. Watching those two, Jasprit on the opposite side, sometimes you've got to hold your hand up and say what a player. Jimmy is the same for us.”
He signed off by saying, “Bumrah throughout the game was exceptional. There were a lot of times when we were on top of India but India produced something to get back on top. It was like India's game, our game. Towards the end, Jasprit Bumrah is an absolute champion of a player. He comes back whenever Rohit (Sharma) needs a wicket. I love to watch very good cricketers go about their business and Jasprit Bumrah is one of them, another great Test match for him.”
The third Test will be played from February 15 onwards in Rajkot.