Former Indian pace spearhead Zaheer Khan believes Jasprit Bumrah, who went wicketless in the recently-concluded three-match ODI series against New Zealand, needs to be more aggressive to take wickets as batsmen now get to adopt a defensive approach against him.

“When you build a reputation like how Jasprit Bumrah has built now over the years, you will have to fight this,” Zaheer told Cricbuzz.” Bumrah is in a phase where teams are saying ‘even if we get thirty five runs we are happy with that as long as we are not giving him wickets because then we can attack the other bowlers’.”

Jasprit Bumrah was not on his best form as despite playing in all the three games against the Kiwis, he failed to do well with the ball and returned wicketless while conceding a total of 167 runs in the 30 overs he bowled in the series. In the ICC rankings, he has been replaced by New Zealand speedster Trent Boult at the number one spot after the recently concluded series.

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“That is something which Bumrah will have to understand that he has to be extra aggressive in terms of looking to get those wickets because he knows the batsmen are going to be defensive. So, he has to find that way of going for wickets rather than hoping that the batsmen will make a mistake because batsmen are taking a very conservative approach and making sure that his wicket-taking column is not getting filled,”Khan added.

“It’s a good sign that other batsmen are giving him that respect so it’s Bumrah’s call to now basically make them play. He has to make the play now rather than batsman playing him out,” Zaheer Khan concluded.

However, Jasprit Bumrah will now try to do his best in the upcoming two-Test series against the same opponent which will begin from February 21 in Wellington.