Former Australian Cricketer Brad Haddin has questioned the impact of Team India pacer Jasprit Bumrah’s performance in the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
Speaking on a YouTube podcast, Haddin acknowledged Bumrah’s class but pointed out that the Indian pace spearhead did not win a single Test during the series.
“India can take a lot from this, they can still compete without Bumrah. Life goes on. The other bowlers found a way. India has so much bowling talent,” said Haddin.
“But Bumrah didn’t win a Test match. Siraj stood up when it mattered. His workload was just as heavy, and he delivered when India needed him most.”
Bumrah featured in three Tests and picked up 14 wickets, but it was Mohammed Siraj who stole the spotlight, especially in the final match at The Oval.
“Siraj enjoys being the leader of the attack. He’s the kind of guy who wants the ball in big moments. Sure, he makes mistakes, but he never hides from the occasion,” he said.
“You want players like that, players who embrace the pressure and take the challenge head-on. He wanted the ball in that last hour of play. There’s no doubt in my mind, he wanted to bowl every over to win that game.”
Haddin also weighed in on the pressure facing India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir, saying that had India failed to win the final Test, questions over Gambhir’s future would have intensified.
“India were under pressure heading into the series. Their red-ball record hasn’t been great and Gambhir. well, if they hadn’t won that last Test, I reckon he’d be under serious scrutiny,” Haddin noted.