‘Just a coincidence’: Sachin Tendulkar on India winning without Jasprit Bumrah | Cricket News

Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah (AFP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar believes India winning two Tests in opposition to England in Jasprit Bumrah‘s absence was purely a “coincidence”, asserting that the tempo ace’s high quality stays “exceptional and unbelievable”. Bumrah featured in three of the 5 Tests within the not too long ago concluded collection, which led to a hard-fought 2-2 draw. Notably, India received each Tests during which Bumrah didn’t play, as a part of a pre-planned workload administration technique.Tendulkar felt that India’s victories at Birmingham and The Oval without Bumrah had been extra a matter of luck. He underlined Bumrah’s impression within the three matches he did play, the place he claimed a whole of 14 wickets.“Bumrah started off really well, got five wickets in the (first innings of the) first Test. He did not play the second Test, but (played in) the third and the fourth. Again, in (one of) those two Tests, he got (a) five wickets (haul),” Tendulkar stated in his video evaluation of the collection on ‘Reddit’.“Of three Test that he played, he picked up five wickets twice. I know that people are discussing a number of things, that we won those Tests in which he did not play. To me, that is just a coincidence.“The quality of Bumrah is exceptional. What he has been able to do is just unbelievable so far. He has been a consistent performer without any doubt (and) I would put him right at the top with anyone else,” he added.In Bumrah’s absence, Mohammed Siraj stepped up with an outstanding effort, picking up 23 wickets across all five Tests while bowling a total of 185.3 overs.

Still, Bumrah remains well ahead in overall numbers — 219 wickets in 48 Tests, compared to Siraj’s 123 wickets in 41 matches.Bumrah sitting out the must-win fifth Test sparked debate around workload management, but the team management maintained that risking the premier pacer was not an option.Tendulkar also praised all-rounder Washington Sundar for his all-round contribution throughout the series.“Whenever he has played, he has contributed. Even if you look at the second Test match, in the fourth innings he bowled a crucial ball to Ben Stokes just before lunch on Day Five. He got him out. To me, that was one of the turning points,” Tendulkar said.“In the last Test, when it was time to hit out, he smacked 53 runs. He accelerated brilliantly.“Where it was needed to occupy the crease, he was able to do that in the fourth Test and where it was about pressing the accelerator hard, he was able to do that in the fifth Test as well. Well done, Washi…I really enjoyed it,” he added.Tendulkar additionally shared his perspective on the heated second that adopted India’s refusal to just accept the draw provided by England captain Ben Stokes through the Manchester Test.

He defended the choice to play on, saying each Washington and Jadeja had each proper to go for his or her centuries and that the Indian staff acted within the “right spirit”.“People talk about the fourth Test match, whether those hundreds from Washington and Jadeja were in the right spirit? Why shouldn’t it be? They were playing for a draw,” Tendulkar stated.“Before that, England was having a go at them, (and despite) all that if a batter is still batting, if he sees through it and towards the end of the day’s play, if he’s (still) batting… both of them, yes, they got (their) hundreds, but according to me, the series was alive.“Why should they go in (dressing room) and give that rest to England fielders and the bowlers? If they want to bowl Harry Brook or whatever, that is Ben Stokes’ choice, that is not India’s problem,” he added.Tendulkar dismissed Stokes’ reasoning that his offer to draw the match was to allow his bowlers some rest before the final Test.“…why should England bowlers be fresh in the fifth Test match?” Tendulkar asked.“Why should the (England) fielders be fresh? Do you have an answer? There is no answer.“I’m absolutely with the Indian team. Be it (Gautam) Gambhir or Shubman (Gill) or Jadeja and Washington, they decided, (and I am) 100 per cent with them.”