As India gears up for its high-stakes five-match Test series against England starting June 20 in Leeds, senior England batter Jos Buttler has declared Jasprit Bumrah the “biggest superstar in Indian cricket”, lauding the pacer’s unique bowling style and match-winning prowess.
🏏 Buttler: “No Bigger Star Than Bumrah in the Touring Squad”
Speaking on the For the Love of Cricket podcast with former England pacer Stuart Broad, Buttler said:
“I don’t think there’s a bigger star in that touring squad than Jasprit Bumrah. Facing him is a nightmare—his angles are awkward, the run-up is unique, and he delivers the ball closer to the batsman than most, making it feel even quicker.”
Buttler, a right-hander, admitted that Bumrah’s deceptive action often left him “squared up and a bit of a sitting target,” underscoring the Indian pacer’s psychological edge over batters.
🎯 Broad: “England Won’t Want Him Playing All Five Tests”
Stuart Broad, who retired in 2023 with 604 Test wickets, echoed Buttler’s sentiments, warning that if Bumrah plays all five Tests, he could take a “shedload of wickets.” Broad compared Bumrah’s delivery stride to that of Australian legend Glenn McGrath, calling it one of the most balanced in world cricket.
🩺 Workload Management in Focus
India’s selectors have confirmed that Bumrah will not feature in all five Tests due to workload concerns. The 31-year-old is returning to red-ball cricket after recovering from a back injury and is expected to be a key weapon under Shubman Gill’s captaincy.
