Former India opener turned commentator Aakash Chopra has referred to Jasprit Bumrah as a modern master after his amazing spells in the first two Tests between India and England. Notably, Bumrah scalped six wickets across England’s two innings in India’s 28-run loss in the first Test in Hyderabad. He then scalped a nine-wicket haul as Team India registered a 106-run win in the second Test in Visakhapatnam 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 with three wickets. Nine wickets in a Test match on a flat pitch.”

However, Jasprit Bumrah registered figures of 6/45 in 15.5 overs as England could only manage 255 in their first innings. He claimed three important wickets as England was bundled out for 292 while chasing a 399-run target in the second innings. Aakash Chopra also said that a pacer hadn’t won the Player of the Match in the Test format in India for more than four years now 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. 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,” Aakash Chopra concluded.