The Indian team completely outplayed England in the last two days of the Oval Test match as the tourists registered a 157-run win and also took an unbeatable 2-1 lead in this five-match Test series with only one match to go.
From being bowled out for 191 on a batting conducive wicket and conceding a 99-run first-innings lead to England, the Virat Kohli and Co. made a superb comeback to win a Test match after 50 years at this venue in London.
The former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria, who was in awe of this Indian team, lauded Indian bowlers especially Jasprit Bumrah for bowling two amazing yorkers to remove in-form Ollie Pope and wicket-keeper batsman Jonny Bairstow.
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“Team India bowled a brilliant line and length on Day 5 at The Oval, spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah. What a performer he is. In 24 Tests, Bumrah has claimed 100 wickets and is the fastest Indian bowler to claim 100 Test scalps,” Kaneria said in his latest YouTube video.
“When Day 5 began, the wicket wasn’t as bad for batting. The sun was out as well, it was a dry track and the ball was coming onto the bat.
But it was a Bumrah show. He first bowled Ollie Pope through the gate, then it was a super yorker to get rid of Jonny Bairstow. I have never seen anyone bowl the yorker better than Jasprit Bumrah. It is like a serious toe-crusher,” he added.
The 40-year-old then showered all Indian bowlers for their contributions in India’s epic win over Joe Root’s England.
“Ravindra Jadeja also picked up two wickets. Umesh Yadav was superb. Whenever he was given the ball, he claimed wickets and boosted Team India’s morale. Every bowler, barring Mohammed Siraj, contributed,” the former Pakistan spinner said.
As India was reduced to 127/7 at one stage in their first innings, all-rounder Shardul Thakur bailed them out of an embarrassment with his quick-fire 57 off 36 and took India to a respectable 191 and on top of that, the Mumbai based cricketer got the big wicket of England skipper Joe Root.
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“Shardul Thakur played a key role. He took wickets at crucial times and scored important runs as well. I think Shardul Thakur is an all-rounder that Team India will always want to have in the playing XI. He always delivers when the team needs it most, both with the bat and the ball,” the leg-spinner said.
“Thakur’s dismissal of Joe Root was a surprise wicket and it was the scalp India wanted. Root always plays late but Thakur’s ball seamed a little and that’s all that was needed for India to get the vital breakthrough,” the Karachi-based cricketer concluded.
Thus, with India going 2-1 up in this ongoing Test series, it will be exciting to see whether the tourists manage to make it 3-1 or the hosts replicate their performance from last week at Headingley in Leeds and level the series yet again.
