'Better than all of us' - Waqar Younis on Jasprit Bumrah's comparison with Wasim Akram
"No, he is better than all of us. We didn't have this thinking level at his age. His skill is better, his thinking is better. He is the best that the world has ever seen," revealed Chopra.
Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra revealed that Pakistan veteran Waqar Younis regards Jasprit Bumrah as the best in the business. Bumrah impressed in the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy, playing three matches and claiming 14 wickets.
Chopra mentioned that when he compared Bumrah to Pakistan great Wasim Akram and asked Younis if the Indian pacer was similar to him, Younis admitted that Bumrah is indeed the best.
"We were in a car. Waqar Younis was with me. I asked him, 'The entire cricket world has respect for Wasim Akram for the variations in his bowling and the control he possessed. He was par excellence. Bumrah is like right-handed Wasim Akram, right?' He replied, 'No, he is better than all of us. We didn't have this thinking level at his age. His skill is better, his thinking is better. He is the best that the world has ever seen'," said Chopra on his YouTube channel.
'Others pale in comparison' - Bumrah supported by Karthik
Chopra also pointed out that Bumrah has faced criticism for his workload management. The right-arm pacer deliberately played only three matches to reduce the risk of injury.
"It was being said that India couldn't have a better captain than Jasprit Bumrah. It was being asked why bowlers can't become captains, as he was vice-captain under Rohit Sharma's captaincy and had captained in Perth and won the match as well, so he should become the captain," Chopra said.
"This is how it started, and this is how it's going - trolling, that when he plays, the team loses, and doesn't take full responsibility when he plays, which means from Boom Boom Bumrah, our fans have become gumrah (gone astray). I am very, very surprised and sorry," he added.
The cricketer-turned-commentator described Bumrah as a generational talent, standing head and shoulders above the rest.
"He is the best bowler in the world right now across formats. If Bumrah plays only three matches, let him play. If workload management says that, without breaking down, I can keep Bumrah playing in important matches, I will do whatever it takes," Chopra concluded.
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