Former India pacer Irfan Pathan has praised Jasprit Bumrah for prioritizing Test cricket even after back surgery. He also added that the longest format will continue to flourish if every team has a committed bowler like him as well. However, the recently concluded two-match series between India and South Africa was his first stint in the Test format since being back from surgery. He with 12 scalps to his credit, finished as the highest wicket-taker across both sides.

On the Star Sports show ‘Follow the Blues’, Pathan said: “I have fallen in love with Jasprit Bumrah’s attitude, especially the way he has bowled after back surgery. He is not only an inspiration for Indian cricket but also for world cricket. If you are prioritizing red-ball cricket even after surgery, you won’t get a bigger brand ambassador than him in bowling. If every country gets a bowler like Jasprit Bumrah, Test cricket will keep flourishing.”

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However, Jasprit Bumrah picked up four wickets in South Africa’s only innings in the first Test in Centurion. And, in the second, he registered figures of 6/61 to help the visitors restrict the hosts to 176. Sunil Gavaskar also applauded Jasprit Bumrah for being eager to keep learning as well.

“I don’t know Bumrah as a person but as a cricketer, he wants to make himself a better cricketer every day. It’s difficult to bowl outswing with his action but the way he is bowling outswing now, how much effort he would have put in. He has the slower bouncer as well,” he concluded. “He shows very good application in batting as well. He went as a nightwatchman in Australia. Then I had jokingly said that he would tell his grandchildren going forward that he batted at No. 3 for India. He can bat well going forward. We saw him making the fastest fifty (most runs in an over) in England.”