"Genius" Jasprit Bumrah was the difference in the second Test, says Nasser Hussain

The India seamer finished with match figures of 9 for 91 to claim the player of the match prize in the 106-run series-squaring win clinched on day four

Drew Murphy | 05/02/2024 at 20:58

Former England captain Nasser Hussain believes the magic of Jasprit Bumrah was the difference for India in the second Test victory in Visakhapatnam

Bumrah finished with match figures of 9 for 91 to claim the player of the match prize in the 106-run series-squaring win clinched on day four.

An exhibition in reverse-swing bowling defined the contest, with the India seamer tormenting England's middle order during a wonderous spell with the old ball on day two.

"It was a fantastic Test match, a brilliant pitch and two sides going hard at each other," Hussain, who played for England 184 times, told Sky Sports.

"England fought hard but the spell from Bumrah in England's first innings was genius.

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Hussain believes the series is set up perfectly with three to play (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

"He blew England away on a really good, flat pitch, and the spell he bowled in the first innings with the ball to Ollie Pope was the difference between the two sides."

The string of wickets in England's first innings included removing Joe Root for the eighth time in Tests.

"Most of the time you look at your own performance and say what could we do better but sometimes in sport you have to look at the opposition and just doff your cap and say that was special today, that was incredible from Bumrah," added Hussain.

"Reverse swing has slightly gone out of the game but with Bumrah and his unorthodox action, he creates the angles with the way he leans across to the offside.

Level at 1-1 with three to play, India could yet recall Virat Kohli with him having missed the first two Tests for personal reasons.

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Only Australians Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon have dismissed Root more times in Tests (Stu Forster/Getty Images)

KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami are also sidelined due to injuries.

Hussain said: "We are talking about some serious cricketers there and when India announce their side Kohli and KL Rahul may well come back in, so I would expect a stronger Indian side in those last three games.

"But the series is set up perfectly, It has been brilliant to watch."

The third test takes place in Rajkot from Thursday, February 15.

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