File picture of former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh, who lavished praise on Jasprit Bumrah’s performance during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series
| Photo Credit: ANI
Former cricketer Harbhajan Singh believes that if star bowler Jasprit Bumrah had not taken part in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), India would have suffered a 5-0 series defeat instead of a 3-1 humbling by Australia.
In 45 days of riveting cricket, Bumrah led India’s fight against the WTC champions, picking crucial Australian wickets across the five matches.
He was the mastermind behind India’s record-shattering 295-run victory in the series opener in Perth. He ended the series as the leading wicket-taker and was awarded the player of the series. Despite India’s series loss, Bumrah garnered much praise and even Travis Head admitted that it was the best “individual performance” that he had seen since he started playing the format.
Harbhajan praised Bumrah and said that if the “national treasure” wasn’t a part of the team, India would have lost the BGT by 5-0 or 4-0 in favour of Australia.
“If Jasprit Bumrah wasn’t in this tour, the series would have ended 5-0. Jassi saved India in Perth. After Adelaide, he saved India in the rest of the matches. If he wasn’t in the series, India would have lost by either 5-0 or 4-0,” Harbhajan Singh said on his YouTube channel.
He ended the five-match BGT series with 32 wickets, making him India’s highest wicket-taker in a Test series against the Baggy Greens on Australian soil.
Bumah arrived at his tally at an exceptional average of 12.64, including three five-wicket hauls, with a best of 6/76. In doing so, he surpassed Bishan Singh Bedi’s record of 31 wickets from the 1977-78 tour of Australia.
Published – January 06, 2025 11:45 am IST
