New Delhi: Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar believes that India won two Tests against England in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and was purely a “coincidence”, claiming that the quality of Paes Ace remains “extraordinary and untrustable”. Bumrah depicted three out of five tests in the recently concluded series, ending a hard-to-2–2 draw. In particular, India won both tests, in which Bumrah did not play as part of the pre -planned workload management strategy.Tendulkar felt that India’s victory in Birmingham and without Bumrah was a matter of oval fate. He underlined the influence of Bumrah in three of his playing matches, where he claimed a total of 14 wickets.“Bumrah actually started well, (first innings) got five wickets. He did not play the second Test in the first Test, but was played in the third and fourth. Again, one of those two tests, he got (A) five wickets (hall),” Tendulkar said in his video analysis of the series on ‘Reddit’.He said, “Three tests that he played, he took five wickets twice. I know that people are discussing many things, that we won the tests in which he did not play. For me, it is just a coincidence.He said, “The quality of Bumrah is extraordinary. What he is able to do is unreliable so far. He has been a consistent artist without any doubt (and) I will put him on top with someone else.”In the absence of Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj stepped with an excellent attempt, with a total of 185.3 overs bowling and took 23 wickets in all five tests.
Nevertheless, compared to Siraj’s 123 wickets in 41 matches, 219 wickets in 48 tests – total number of Bumrah is well ahead.Bumrah sat out of the fifth Test about the workload management, but the team management stated that it was not an option to risk Premier Pacer.Tendulkar also praised all -rounder Washington Sundar for his all -round contribution throughout the series.“Whenever he plays, he has contributed. Even if you watch the second Test match, in the fourth innings he bowled an important ball for Ben Stokes just before the five -day lunch. He drove him out. For me, it was one of the diversion points, ”said Tendulkar.“In the last Test, when it was time to hit, he scored 53 runs. He fasted brilliantly.He said, “Where the crease was needed to capture, he was able to do so in the fourth test and where it was about to press the accelerator barely, he was able to do the same in the fifth trial. Do well, did well, Vashi … I really enjoyed it,” he said.Tendulkar also shared his perspective at a hot moment, which refused to accept the draw offered by England captain Ben Stokes during the Manchester Test.
He defended the decision to play, saying that both Washington and Jadeja had full authority to go for their centuries and the Indian team worked in a “right spirit”.“People talk about the fourth Test match, did hundreds of people of Washington and Jadeja were in the right spirit? Why should it not be? They were playing for a draw,” said Tendulkar.“Earlier, England was going on them, (and despite) all this if a batsman is still batting, if he looks through it and towards the end of the day’s game, if he (still) is batting … Both, yes, they (his) got hundreds, but according to me, the series was alive.He said, “Why should they go to (dressing room) and give rest to England fielders and bowlers? If they want to do Harry Brook or whatever boule they want to boule, the choice of Ben Stokes, this is not the problem of India,” he said.Tendulkar dismissed Stokes’ argument that his proposal to attract the match was to allow his bowlers to give some rest before the final test.“… Why should the England bowlers be fresh in the fifth Test match?” Tendulkar asked.“(England) Why should the fielder be fresh? Do you have any answer?“I am completely with the Indian team. It (Gautam) Gambhir or Shubman (Gill) or Jadeja and Washington, he decided, (and I) 100 percent with him.”
