India captain Virat Kohli has hailed Jasprit Bumrah as the “most complete bowler in world cricket”, following his performance in the two-Test series against West Indies.
Bumrah took 13 wickets in the series, including a hat-trick in the first innings of the second Test, at a remarkable average of 9.43 and was declared Player of the Series. His performance took his wickets tally in all of 12 Tests to an incredible 62.
Kohli said India were “really lucky to have him on our team” and was delighted with how Bumrah, despite a niggle, “did the job for the team when he was in pain”. That said, the batsman in him couldn’t help but feel sorry for his West Indies counterparts, having to deal with Bumrah’s numerous skills.
Bumrah played a huge role in helping India win the series 2-0 – they won the two Tests by 318 runs and 257 runs – but Kohli had other aspects to look back on in delight. Chief among them, he said, was the arrival of G Hanuma Vihari.
The middle-order batsman, who made his Test debut against England last year, scored his maiden Test century in Kingston and ended the series as the top run-scorer, with 289 at 96.33. “I think the find of the series has to be Hanuma Vihari,” said Kohli.
“The way he has batted under pressure especially. And on a much more challenging wicket here in Jamaica than in Antigua, I think his skills set were outstanding, his temperament and techniques were top notch and he countered everything the opposition threw at him.”
