Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has named Jasprit Bumrah a modern master after his stunning spells in the first two Tests between India and England. However, Bumrah claimed six wickets across England’s two innings in India’s 28-run loss in the first Test in Hyderabad as well. He followed that up with a nine-wicket match haul as the Indian Team registered a 106-run win in the second Test in Visakhapatnam on Monday (February 5) to draw level in the five-match series as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra added: “We were saying these pitches are extremely flat and that there is no help for fast bowlers. Jasprit Bumrah said hold my juice. You are watching a modern master. This player’s skills are of a different level. I have kept only one guy in the splendid category. To be fair, there were other contenders but he also got the Player of the Match. He started in Hyderabad, two wickets in the first innings, four in the second innings, six in the third innings, and then again three wickets. Nine wickets in a Test match on a flat pitch.”

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However, Jasprit Bumrah registered figures of 6/45 in 15.5 overs as England were bundled out for 255 in their first innings. He scalped three crucial wickets as England were bundled out for 292 in pursuit of a 399-run target in the second innings. Aakash Chopra also added that a seamer hadn’t won the Player of the Match in the Test format in India for more than four years as well.

“The last time a fast bowler got a Man of the Match in India was way back in 2019. It was a pink-ball Test match in Eden Gardens and Bangladesh was the opposition. To be fair, a lot of grass was left there. Ishant Sharma was the Man of the Match there but there was nothing for the spinners there,” Aakash Chopra concluded. “However, this wasn’t a seaming pitch. It was an extremely flat pitch. If there was any moisture, that also evaporated in the first hour of the first day. Bumrah bowled second and then on the fourth day. His deliveries are talking in the air. The yorker to Ollie Pope has a separate fan base.”