Legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has firmly quashed rising chatter on social media that suggests India performs better in Test cricket when pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is not playing. Reacting to discussions that gained traction after India’s Test series draw against England, Tendulkar clarified that the team’s wins in Bumrah’s absence were nothing more than a coincidence.
The narrative emerged after India clinched victories in the second and fifth Tests of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy—both matches Bumrah missed due to workload management. Akash Deep grabbed headlines with a 10-wicket haul in Birmingham, while Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna delivered telling blows at The Oval in the series decider.
However, in a video posted on Reddit, Sachin Tendulkar dismissed the theory and reaffirmed Bumrah’s match-winning abilities. “Bumrah started the series brilliantly, picking up five wickets in the first Test. He was rested for the second and returned for the third and fourth, taking another five-for at Lord’s. That’s two five-wicket hauls in three matches. I know there’s talk about India winning the games he didn’t play, but honestly, that’s just a coincidence,” Tendulkar asserted.
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Praising Bumrah’s consistency and unmatched quality, Tendulkar added, “What Bumrah has achieved in such a short span is simply unbelievable. He’s been a reliable performer across formats. I’d place him right at the top among the best fast bowlers in the world today.”
Tendulkar’s comments come in the wake of a pre-decided rotation strategy. As per chief selector Ajit Agarkar, it was planned well in advance that Bumrah would play only three of the five Tests, a move aimed at preserving his fitness amid a hectic calendar. Bumrah featured in the series opener in Leeds, where India posted over 800 runs but still suffered a defeat. He picked up a five-wicket haul in the first innings but couldn’t make an impact in the second, as England chased down 373 with five wickets to spare.
India bounced back in Birmingham—without Bumrah—winning by a massive 336 runs. Though he returned at Lord’s and claimed another five wickets, India narrowly lost that Test by 22 runs after failing to chase 195. In Manchester, Bumrah took just two wickets before being rested for the final Test at The Oval due to advice from the BCCI medical team.
Despite missing their pace spearhead, India found a hero in Siraj, who stepped up in stunning fashion. The Hyderabad pacer claimed nine wickets in the final match, including a five-wicket haul, almost sealing a win before England fell just seven runs short of the 374-run target. Siraj finished the series with 23 wickets, emerging as the leading wicket-taker and Player of the Match in the finale. He also bowled a staggering 185.2 overs—the highest for any fast bowler in the series.
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Sachin Tendulkar lauded Siraj’s energy, intensity, and mental strength. “I love his body language. You’d never know from watching him whether he’s taken five wickets or none—his intensity doesn’t change. That kind of attitude makes life tough for any batsman,” he said.
As India continues to manage its pace arsenal smartly, Tendulkar’s comments serve as a timely reminder: Jasprit Bumrah’s class is not up for debate—and neither is Siraj’s rising stature.
