India skipper Virat Kohli hailed “outstanding” Jasprit Bumrah after the pacer picked up career-best match figures of 9-86 in the team’s 137-run win over Australia in the Boxing Day Test, including 6-33 in the first innings.
Kohli says the paceman’s ability to bowl this well this early in his Test career – the 25-year-old only made his debut in January, and has already taken five-wicket hauls in England, South Africa and now Australia – “is a very scary sign for batsmen around the world”.
“Credit has to go to the bowlers. I think they have been outstanding, especially Jasprit. The way he bowled in this Test match was outstanding,” said Kohli after the win gave India a 2-1 lead in the four-Test series.
“The mindset he has at the moment is what separates him from anyone else in the world right now.
The Indian skipper is full of praise for star quick Jasprit Bumrah! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/LRwUY1Fswl
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 30, 2018
“He looks at a pitch and he doesn’t think it’s a hard toil, he thinks wickets, he thinks how can I get a breakthrough for the team.
“He’s as strong-headed as I’ve seen anyone in the past and that’s the key to his success that I’ve seen in the last 12 months, the way he has matured as a Test cricketer.”
“In Test cricket…I wouldn’t want to face him to be honest because once he is on a roll, he can really crank it up,” Kohli added.