"He is a bowler without a weakness" - Sanjay Manjrekar's huge praise for Jasprit Bumrah after Day 2 of IND vs BAN 2024 1st Test
Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar described Jasprit Bumrah as a bowler without a weakness after the latter impressed again on Day 2 of the Chennai Test against Bangladesh. Manjrekar added that India is extremely fortunate to have a player of Bumrah's caliber in their side.
India dominated proceedings on Day 2 of the first Test against Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday, September 20. Resuming their first innings on 339-6, they finished on 376. Bumrah then claimed 4-50 in 11 overs as Bangladesh were rolled over for 149 in 47.1 overs. The hosts went to stumps on Day 2 at Chepauk at 81-3, with a lead above 300.
While discussing Bumrah's bowling exploits on Friday in Chennai, Manjrekar said he was short of words to praise the Indian fast bowler. He told ESPNcricinfo:
"We all know about his variations, his thinking - one of the sharpest thinking fast bowlers. We saw a certain amount of meanness as well in the way he bowled to Taskin. But the one thing that came through today was that he is a bowler without a weakness - whatever the opposition, pitch conditions and that's actually the best way to judge greatness."
"You don't see any weakness at all in this guy. Indian cricket is so fortunate to have him in their side," the 59-year-old former India batter went on to add.
Bumrah picked up the first wicket to fall in Bangladesh's first innings. He knocked over opener Shadman Islam (2) from round the wicket as the batter shouldered arms to a delivery that came in with the angle.
The 30-year-old had veteran batter Mushfiqur Rahim (8) caught at second slip with a probing delivery outside off. The India pacer then forced a nick from Hasan Mahmud (9) before cleaning up Taskin Ahmed (11) with a yorker.
Jasprit Bumrah achieved an impressive landmark on Day 2 in Chennai
Apart from claiming four wickets, Bumrah also became the latest Indian bowler to pick up 400 scalps in international cricket. He reached the landmark with Mahmud's wicket, his third victim of the innings.
The Ahmedabad-born pacer is only the sixth Indian fast bowler to claim 400 or more international wickets, joining Kapil Dev (687), Zaheer Khan (610), Javagal Srinath (551), Mohammed Shami (448), and Ishant Sharma (434).