With easy passing game, the list of admirers of the Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah seems to be increasing now it has witnessed another addition to it as the former Australia captain Steve Waugh is left in awe of the fast bowlers’ exploits. Bumrah has had a fabulous debut year, as he took as many as 48 wickets in just nine matches, including a match haul of 9/86 in the third Test at Melbourne which allowed India to take a 2-1 series lead.

Speaking highly of Bumrah, Waugh reckons that the Indian pacer was one of the crucial differences between the two teams as India is on the verge of winning their first Test series win in Australia in 71 long years.

Talking to cricket.com.au., Waugh said, “(Jasprit) Bumrah has been a revelation – he’s been the difference between the two sides. He gets some breakthroughs, he’s got good longevity and he can bowl long spells. Their (India’s) bowling attack has been excellent, and obviously, Pujara has been the key to the batting. He’s just occupied the crease, and then you’ve got Kohli coming in around that.”

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Waugh also appreciated how the Indian team has emerged as the team to beat, with all players making significant contributions. Their pace attack had been the biggest revelation of 2018, one that has played a crucial role in their wins in Adelaide and Melbourne. On the batting front, Cheteshwar Pujara has been the leading run-scorer with three centuries. Together, India has been able to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Describing the same, former skipper said, “They (India) look a really strong unit together, they work for each other really well and the captain is a strong leader. India’s tactics have been really good, they’ve thought about how they’re going to go about this series. They are going to wear down our bowlers and bat around (Pujara), and their attack is good – they can take 20 wickets.”

While Australia has boasted a strong bowling attack with Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon, but it’s been the batting that has let them down. The highest individual score in the series by an Australia batsman has been Travis Head’s 72 in Adelaide, who is also Australia’s highest run-scorer.

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Talking about the hosts, Waugh said, “We need someone like Khawaja to do the same sort of role maybe as Pujara, and Usman I’d like to see get a big score and lead the way and maybe show the younger guys the ropes of how to do it. He (Khawaja) probably needs to step up to the plate this match.”