Star Indian spinner R Ashwin praised speedster Jasprit Bumrah for his work ethic, and ability to clock high speeds consistently in hot conditions as well. However, his comments came after Bumrah recently declared himself the fittest Indian cricketer as well. However,
on being asked to choose the fittest Indian cricketer at a press conference a few days ago, Bumrah responded his name as well.
He said (via Hindustan Times): “I know the answer you are searching for, but I would like to say my name, because I am a fast bowler. Being a fast bowler and playing in this country in the heat takes a lot of requirement. So I will always promote a fast bowler.”
During an interaction with journalists Vimal Kumar and Ashwath Bobo on his Hindi YouTube channel ‘Ash ki Baat,’ Ashwin slammed the media as well. The veteran also said that the right-arm pacer is a ‘crowned jewel’ and that no other Indian bowler has had the same impact as him since the legendary Kapil Dev.
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Ravichandran Ashwin said: “Jasprit Bumrah is a fast bowler. He keeps bowling 145 km/h. He is a crowned jewel of Indian cricket. He is the Kohinoor diamond of Indian cricket. Let him say whatever he wants. After Kapil Dev, has there been an Indian bowler bigger than Bumrah?”
“People want to say that he got injured, how is he the fittest cricketer? There is a lot of difference. One is a tipper lorry and one is a Mercedes-Benz. Mercedes-Benz can be driven carefully, it’s chauffeur-driven. Tipper Lorry has to move from north to south with so much load. A fast bowler is a tipper lorry, they will break down. He has come back from a stress fracture and is bowling at 145 km/h. Give him credit,” the off-spinner further added.
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Meanwhile, Bangladesh batter Tamim Iqbal believes Ravichandran Ashwin should be given the due credit for his stunning show for Indian cricket.
“What I always hear is Virat Kohlis and Rohit Sharmas, but Ravichandran Ashwin is equally important in my eyes. We only talk about when they do well; when they get the hundreds, they get five-six wickets. But their contribution to this Indian team is immense. It’s as big as Rohit, as big as Virat Kohli,” Tamim Iqbal said [via Republic World].
