Jasprit Bumrah was absolute gold dust: Aakash Chopra says India pacer ‘showed his class’ against England

Former India batter Aakash Chopra has heaped praise on India fast-bowler Jasprit Bumrah, saying he was absolute gold dust against England on Day 3 of their first Test match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.

Bumrah was the pick of the bowlers for India on Day 3, claiming two wickets while giving away 29 runs in 12 overs. After bowling India out for 436 runs in the first session, England posted 316 for 6 on the board on the back of a sensational hundred from vice-captain Ollie Pope, who remained unbeaten in 148.

Speaking on his Youtube channel, Chopra said Bumrah showed his class in the second session and was absolute gold dust. Bumrah cleaned up Ben Duckett with a beautiful in-swinging delivery that smashed the top of his off-stump before catching Joe Root LBW in the second session.

“If India had not won the second session, this match would have been placed differently. We are talking about spin but Jasprit Bumrah came. He showed his class. He was absolutely brilliant. He was absolute gold dust,” said Chopra.

He went on to say that Bumrah set up Root extremely well by surprising him with an in-swinger after taking the ball away in the previous deliveries. Root’s wicket was Bumrah’s 140th in Test cricket, having played 32 matches for India.

“He picked up two wickets. Ben Duckett was ultimately bowled with an incoming ball. He would have got him lbw had the DRS been used earlier. Joe Root’s wicket – the setup was extremely good. He kept taking the ball away and then brought the ball in and hit his pads,” Chopra added.

After posting 436 runs in their first innings, India picked early wickets to pile pressure on the visitors. However, a free-flowing century by Pope got England out of trouble as he stitched a crucial 112-run partnership with wicket-keeping batter Ben Foakes.

Their partnership helped England go past India’s total and take a 126-run lead. Interestingly, this was Pope’s maiden hundred against India and his fifth in Test cricket.

England will be looking to build on this lead as they begin Day 4 with Pope on 148 and Rehan Ahmed on 16. Meanwhile, India will be hoping the spinners can come to the party and bundle up the visitors early.