Saba Karim lauds Jasprit Bumrah’s spell on Day 2 of ENG vs IND 2025 1st Test

Former Indian wicket-keeper bat Saba Karim showered praise on Jasprit Bumrah’s spell after the end of the second day between India and England at Leeds, Headingley on Saturday. India posted a par score of 471 runs, and Bumrah was the pick of the bowlers on the second day’s play.

The gun fast bowler accounted for England opener Zak Crawley in his opening spell. In fact, Ben Duckett was dropped by Ravindra Jadeja when he was on 15 on the bowling of Bumrah.

After the tea break, Bumrah dismissed Duckett as the left-hander played back on to his stumps. Towards the fag end of the day’s play, Bumrah got the big wicket of Joe Root, dismissing England’s veteran batter for the 10th time in Test cricket. At the end of the day’s play, Bumrah returned with figures of 3-48.

“He is going to be the key player whenever he bowls. He knows very well which ball to bowl when and to whom. The way he dismissed Joe Root, he had come for his third spell, and he came because he knew that it would be advantage India if they got Joe Root’s wicket today (Saturday), and he did that,” Saba Karim said on Sony Sports.

“It seemed like he induced Joe Root. He is such a great batter, has scored more than 13,000 Test runs, and you even forced him to play a distant delivery. Why did Joe Root feel that he could play that ball? How far the bat was from his body. When does Joe Root make such mistakes?” the former India wicketkeeper-batter added.

The former Indian selector added that Bumrah is always in control as he delivers consistently for the team.

“However, he is Jasprit Bumrah. So there is pressure on Joe Root as well, that he has to play out that spell as he would bowl a maximum of two or three overs, and he picked up such a big wicket in such a short window. He has done such deeds repeatedly. Jasprit Bumrah writes the script, directs it, and acts as well,” he observed.

Meanwhile, Bumrah was able to dismiss Harry Brook but made a mistake of overstepping the crease.

“He couldn’t write just the last line properly. What a sharp bouncer it was. Harry Brook was also surprised. He is a batter who figures out very quickly how to play. Mohammed Siraj had taken the catch, and he can ask Bumrah why he bowled a no-ball,” he responded.

Karim added that India would have ended strongly if Bumrah had not bowled a no-ball.

“Bumrah might also be feeling that it was a massive moment in the match. If Harry Brook isn’t dismissed early tomorrow (Sunday), the scales might tilt towards England. Bumrah did whatever was required, although this shouldn’t have happened in the end,” Saba observed.

England ended the day’s play at 209-3, trailing India by 262.