Follow UsThe contests between India and England, regardless of the format, have been well-contested ones. The upcoming five-match Test series will be no different as both teams begin their World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle.
Amid the barrage of superstars in the Indian team, former England captain Jos Buttler believes there's no one bigger than Jasprit Bumrah in that squad.
“I don’t think there’s a bigger star in that touring squad than Jasprit Bumrah,” Buttler said on Stuart Broad's podcast.
“But facing him, he creates awkward angles, the run-up is unique, the action is unique. I think I have seen the side-ons [bowlers], but he delivers the ball from about a foot or even a bit more closer to the batsman than the average bowler, so the ball feels quicker even than the pace he is actually bowling at.
“For me, as a right-hander, it always felt like it was coming in, but he could beat me on the outside, and you sort of find yourself in a horrible position, squared up and a bit of a sitting target.
“He is a superstar bowler, and that’s what you expect in international cricket. You are going to come up against great players and certainly someone England will need to play well to have good success."
Bumrah is unlikely to play all five Tests of the series, and Broad believes that it is good news for England. “He is going to be certainly one to watch and certainly someone that England won’t want to play five Tests, because if he does, he’s going to pick up a shedload of wickets, isn’t he?"
The first Test will be played at Headingley from June 20 (Friday) onwards.