Jasprit Bumrah is like fixed deposit: Aakash Chopra

Star India pacer Jasprit Bumrah was at his absolute best yet again as he ran through the English batting line-up to return with a magnificent five-wicket haul in the first innings of the ongoing first Test at the Headingley, Leeds. His 5-83 from 24.4 overs accounted for his 14th five-wicket haul in Test match cricket, which now makes him the Indian bowler with joint-most fifers in the format, alongside the legendary Kapil Dev.

Former cricketer Aakash Chopra was massively impressed by the skill set shown by the India speedster and the brilliance he put on display as he first got the wickets of openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, followed by the main man of English batting Joe Root. He later accounted for the dismissals of Chris Woakes and Josh Tongue to wrap things up, helping India take a negligible but an important six-run lead. Chopra said that investing in Bumrah is like making a fixed deposit, where the returns are guaranteed.

"An ode to Jasprit Bumrah should be written, such a phenomenal player that he is. He is like a fixed deposit. Whenever you need something, and give him the ball, he picks up a wicket. He is absolutely sensational," he said in a video on his YouTube channel on June 23.

Priceless Bumrah deserves Bharat Ratna: Chopra

Chopra earlier also told in the same video that Bumrah is different from rest of the fast bowlers in the Indian side, as Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj never looked as effective, whereas Shardul Thakur did not bowl a lot of overs on both the days of English batting. Since Bumrah stands out from others, Chopra feels he deserves a Bharat Ratna award, which is the highest civilian honour awarded by the Government of India.

"Jasprit Bumrah has taken one more five-wicket haul. Give him the Bharat Ratna because he is absolutely priceless. The guy is different. If people had taken catches and helped him a little more, he might have taken, not five, but eight wickets, and would have given a lead of 160 runs instead of six," the cricketer-turned commentator said. 

"There is no one like Bumrah, but Jassi was alone. Shardul Thakur didn't bowl much. Prasidh Krishna looked slightly undercooked. Mohammed Siraj looked tired towards the end. If you have the question in your mind as to how many matches Jasprit will be able to play, if he has to bowl so much, he will be able to play three matches only," Chopra further added.