In the ongoing Test series between the England and India cricket teams, all-rounder Chris Woakes praised Indian bowling star Jasprit Bumrah for his 'world-class' performance.
After his outstanding display in the second Test against England in Visakhapatnam, Bumrah has attained the top position in the latest ICC Men's Test Bowler rankings, marking the first time an Indian fast bowler has achieved this milestone.
Bumrah's exceptional bowling skills, highlighted by his match figures of 9/91 in the Vizag Test, played a crucial role in India's series-levelling 106-run victory over England ahead of their third Test in Rajkot. Pundits, fans, and players alike showered praise on the 30-year-old for his resilient performance, with Woakes being among those admirers.
The exceptional performance by the pacer not only bagged him the Player of the Match award in the second Test but also propelled him up three places in the Test rankings, surpassing his teammate Ravichandran Ashwin, who had held the top spot since March last year.
Using his recent figures as evidence, Woakes praised Bumrah as one of the best bowlers in the world right now.
"In the last Test match, Jasprit Bumrah was the standout player, he is a world-class player. Across all the formats, he is one of the best if not the best at the moment. It's great to see fast bowling executed well especially in this condition," Chris Woakes told ANI.
In Vizag, Bumrah appeared determined to shatter records, notching a significant milestone by becoming the first Indian pacer to secure 150 wickets in the longest format of the game.
Woakes also stressed the importance of the upcoming third Test, set to begin on February 15. Recognizing India's strong home advantage, the 34-year-old feels that the Rajkot Test, positioned 'in the middle', could have a significant impact on the rest of the series.
"When you're going to play India, obviously India will be the favourites. Team England knows what they need to do to compete and they will see where the series is now, 1-1. The next match will be very important as it is the middle game of the series," Woakes added.
However, Woakes expressed confidence in England's potential to win another match out of the remaining three games and to offer strong competition to the Indian team.
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