IND v ENG 2024: “Bumrah doesn't need help from pitch to perform,” Harbhajan Singh urges India to play on sporting pitches

Bumrah ran through the England batting line-up in the second Test at Vizag.

Jasprit Bumrah | GettyIndia’s strike fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah ran through the England batting line-up in the second Test match at Vizag.

The right-arm quick produced an incredible spell of reverse-swing bowling to return with six wickets (6/45) in England’s first innings.

Bumrah was a chief destroyer in the second essay as well picking up three wickets (3/46) to finish the match with nine scalps. Thanks to his heroics, India registered a series-equalling 106-run victory over England.

Ahead of the third Test, starting on February 15 in Rajkot, Jasprit Bumrah is considered as the biggest threat for the visitors.

In fact, former spinner Harbhajan Singh has compared Bumrah to a potent weapon like the Brahmastra, saying that the ace pacer doesn’t need help from the pitch to perform.

Speaking to Gulf News, Harbhajan advised the Indian team management to not fall into a trap of their own by preparing rank turners.

"Somewhere down the line, Team India management need to sit and think that whether this is the right approach to take it forward or not. India has got a great team with some extraordinary players in their line-up. Someone like Bumrah doesn't need any help from the pitch to perform, he is such a bowler. We have enough spinners and batters but what India need to understand is that the rivals are as much prepared as they are so they need to ensure that they prepare pitches where they don't fall into their own trap," Harbhajan said.

"In that scenario, toss becomes critical and if you lose the toss the result becomes a foregone conclusion. One should be able to win the match even after losing the toss and it can't happen on such pitches," he added.

Team India are missing some of their key players like Virat Kohli and Mohammad Shami in the ongoing Test series against England. Moreover, the injuries haven’t helped their cause either.

While all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is set to return to the team after recovering from a hamstring injury, senior batter KL Rahul is yet to regain complete fitness from the quadriceps injury.

In the absence of Rahul and Kohli, it is likely that both Sarfaraz Khan and Rajat Patidar will feature in the playing XI for the third Test. Some reports also suggest that Dhruv Jurel will replace KS Bharat as the wicketkeeper-batter.

The trio of Sarfaraz, Patidar and Jurel have a total experience of just one Test. While Patidar made his debut in the second Test against England, Sarfaraz and Jurel are yet to receive their Test caps.

After the first two Tests, the five-match series is evenly poised at 1-1. While the Three Lions won the series opener in Hyderabad by 28 runs, the hosts bounced back to win the second Test in Vizag by 106 runs.

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 14 Feb, 2024

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