Bumrah Or Siraj? Here's What Sachin Tendulkar Says On India Winning Tests Which Bumrah Didn't Play

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has come out strongly in support of Jasprit Bumrah amid ongoing chatter questioning the pacer's impact in India's 2-2 draw against England in the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. In a candid three-part review posted on Reddit, Tendulkar addressed the narrative that India happened to win the Tests in which Bumrah did not feature.

"I know people are discussing a number of things - jo Tests khela nahi, voh hum jeete (India won the Tests which he didn't play) and all that. To me, that's just a coincidence, to be honest," Tendulkar said.

Bumrah, who featured in three out of five Tests, claimed 14 wickets in total, including two five-wicket hauls - one at Headingley and another at Lord's. Tendulkar was effusive in his praise for Bumrah's consistency and quality, calling him one of the best in the world.

"Bumrah started off really well, got five wickets in the first Test. He didn't play the second but in the third and fourth again at Lord's, he got 5 wickets. So, out of 3 Tests he played, he has picked five wickets twice. The quality of Bumrah is exceptional. It's unbelievable what he has been able to do so far," Tendulkar said. "To me, he has been a consistent performer without any doubt. I would put him right at the top with anyone else."

Bumrah's absence in the second and fifth Tests was part of a pre-planned workload management strategy. In his place, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Akash Deep stepped up. Siraj in particular was a standout, taking 23 wickets across the series, including two fifers, and thriving on the flatter surfaces.

India now head into a quiet Test phase, with only four red-ball matches scheduled over the next 11 months - all of which will be played on home soil.