ENG vs IND: Batsmen once again dominated the second day of the Leeds Test, but India's Jasprit Bumrah's impact with the ball was far above all other bowlers. Even when the pitch was not helping, Bumrah took three wickets, proving his ability is not dependent on conditions. The Indian bowling unit was constantly struggling—Mohammed Siraj returned empty-handed, giving away 50 runs in 14 overs, Prasidh Krishna proved too expensive, and Ravindra Jadeja also failed to make any impact. Meanwhile, Bumrah once again raised hopes single-handedly.
This story is not new. He took 32 wickets in the Australia series as well, but his performance alone was not enough to get the team to victory. Something similar is happening in the current Test against England. Bumrah again created opportunities, took wickets, but he did not get support from the other end.
ENG vs IND: Jasprit Bumrah was sensational yet again in Day 2 of the Headingley Test
Despite this, he achieved a big feat—he has now become the highest wicket-taker of Asian bowlers in SENA countries. Bumrah surpassed Wasim Akram to take 147 wickets in these countries, and his average is 20.99, which is better than Akram's 24.11. His impact is visible in this statistic.
| Bowler | Wickets | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Jasprit Bumrah | 147 | 20.99 |
| Wasim Akram | 146 | 24.11 |
| Anil Kumble | 141 | 37.04 |
| Ishant Sharma | 130 | 36.86 |
| M Muralidharan | 125 | 26.69 |
| Mohammed Shami | 123 | 32.88 |
| Zaheer Khan | 119 | 31.47 |
| Kaipl Dev | 117 | 33.07 |
| Waqar Younis | 113 | 29.15 |
Opinion:
It would be limited thinking to look at Jasprit Bumrah's achievement only from the perspective of statistics. What makes him special is his consistency and the ability to prove himself even in difficult situations. He is not just a fast bowler; he is a bowler who can change the course of the match, that too when the other bowlers are tired. There is an innate intensity in Bumrah's bowling, which does not give the batsmen time to think, and when other bowlers are looking for line and length, Bumrah is already planning and attacking.
His success is not just the result of talent; it includes patience, hard work and the habit of throwing himself into every test. 147 wickets in SENA countries, even at a time when spinners are not getting a chance and fast bowlers have to constantly struggle with the pitches - this achievement is unique in itself. I
It would not be wrong to say that Bumrah has changed the definition of Indian bowling. He is alone, but his presence puts pressure on the opposing teams as much as many bowlers. Such players come very rarely, and when they come, they secure a place in history.
