India’s second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, Ravichandran Ashwin has picked pace-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah as the country’s ‘most valuable’ cricketer currently.
Ashwin did not pick Indian captain Rohit Sharma and run-machine Virat Kohli as his most valuable pick. The 37-year-old also said that in Chennai, bowlers are appreciated more and how Bumrah got the love of the fans in a recent event.
"We Chennai people appreciate bowlers a lot. He was here for an event as a chief guest 4-5 days ago. We gave him a Rajni treatment. We (Chennai people) treat bowlers very nicely. He should be treated as a champion. I don't want to name, but Jasprit Bumrah is the most valuable Indian cricketer right now," Ashwin said on Vimal Kumar's YouTube channel.
Bumrah has been in sublime for since his comeback after injury. He was impressive in ODI World Cup 2023, in World Test Championship (WTC) matches. However, he saved his best for the T20 World Cup 2024 and bowled with an economy rate of 4.17 runs per over creating an all-time record in the tournament. He was also named the ‘Player of the tournament’ for bagging 15 wickets and not letting batters dominate.
Bumrah’s maiden Test against Bangladesh
30-year-old Bumrah will make his first Test appearance against Bangladesh in the upcoming two-Test series. The first Test is scheduled to start on September 19 at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.
He also has a change to leave Australia’s Josh Hazlewood behind on ICC Test bowler rankings. Bumrah and Hazlewood have 847 rating points each whereas Ashwin is on top with 870.
Bumrah’s Test record at home
This will be Bumrah's ninth Test on home soil. The majority of Tests he has played are on foreign soil. From eight Tests at home, he has 33 wickets including two five-wicket hauls at an average of 16.36.
Ashwin’s chance to move up the ladder
Meanwhile, Ashwin needs four wickets to surpass former West Indies pacer Courtney Walsh and become eighth-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket. The off-spinner has 516 wickets from 100 Tests. He will also have Australia's Nathan Lyon in sights. Lyon has 530 wickets from 129 Tests.
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