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England v India: Jasprit Bumrah was a unique team-mate – Cheteshwar Pujara columns

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If I had bowled a ball like that one to Jennings I would have been running around celebrating and talking about it for ages. Jasprit stayed cool and didn’t ever brag.

He just gets on with the next delivery.

In the dressing room he is always watching the game. Most fast bowlers come off the field and relax with their feet up. He does relax but he always has an eye on the field.

When I used to sit next to him he would always be giving an input on what our batters or the opposition could be doing differently, which is why he was viewed as a candidate to be captain before India appointed Shubman Gill.

Most people talk about Bumrah’s skills with the ball, his angle or his action but his biggest strength is often overlooked.

He has a brilliant cricket brain which comes from his time in the IPL. There he worked with people like former Sri Lanka bowler Lasith Malinga and has gained the skills to outsmart a batter.

His first instinct is always to bowl his best ball but if a batter gets in he knows all of their strengths and weaknesses. He has taken the skills from white-ball cricket to become the complete Test bowler.

One of my favourite moments on that England tour in 2018 came in Southampton when Jasprit helped me get through to a hundred in the first innings.

I was on 96 when he came out at number 11 and I have to admit I did not think I would get there but he walked in and said “I will defend. I don’t know if I will survive but I will do my best”.

I ended up finishing on 132 not out as we put on 46 for the last wicket.

That day sums him up because whether batting or bowling he is a very competitive cricketer.

When it comes to his bowling, no matter the situation of the game, he always wants and believes he can get a wicket.

Ultimately, he is the perfect team man.

Cheteshwar Pujara was speaking to BBC Sport’s Matthew Henry


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