‘He is our number one bowler’ – KL Rahul surprised over queries on Jasprit Bumrah’s comeback

Indian batter KL Rahul was taken aback after Jasprit Bumrah’s spell in the opening Test in Nottingham was being deemed as a ‘comeback’. The latter has made a tremendous start to India’s journey in the 2021-23 World Test Championship cycle. At the Trent Bridge, Bumrah picked up nine wickets, including a five-wicket haul in the second innings of the encounter.

He also got rid of English skipper Joe Root after the latter scored a game-saving ton for the Brits in the second innings. On Bumrah’s performances, Rahul was clear cut in saying that he’s their “number one bowler” and has proven his mettle in diverse conditions.

He has been a match-winner for us: KL Rahul

“Sir, I don’t know why you are saying that (Jasprit) Bumrah has made a comeback. Every time, in every game, in every condition he has proved himself and he is our number one bowler. We are happy that he is doing what he is (has) been doing since he started playing Test cricket.

“Wherever he has played, he has been a match-winner for us. We are happy that he has done once again, what he does best,” Rahul said.

Bumrah missed a chunk of the 2019-21 WTC due to injury, and the start in the ongoing cycle should keep him in good stead going forward. In 21 Tests, Bumrah has picked up 92 wickets with six five-wicket hauls and a hat-trick in 2019. As far as the Nottingham Test was concerned, Rahul was impressed with India’s bowling and its discipline.

“The way we bowled in the first innings and the discipline that we showed after losing the toss and bowling first (was a takeaway). It felt like the team which won the toss had an advantage and we bowled with a lot of discipline. How Mohammed Shami and Bumrah started and how Shardul and Siraj continued, how all of them worked together and bowled in the right channels,” he added.

On the fifth day’s play, India needed a tad over 150 runs to win with nine wickets remaining. However, persistent rain made sure that not a single ball could be bowled on the final day. Root became the Player of the Match for his knocks of 64 and 109.