Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], September 20 (ANI): Indian cricketer Sarfaraz Khan lavished praise on the exceptional pacer Jasprit Bumrah, hailing him as “one of the best” bowlers in contemporary cricket.

Currently, Bumrah is showcasing his skills in the ongoing Test series against Bangladesh. The first Test match is being held at Chennai’s iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium, which commenced on Thursday.

In an interview with Jio Cinema, Sarfaraz reminisced about Bumrah’s remarkable performance during the T20 World Cup final against South Africa. He highlighted how Bumrah’s pivotal wickets turned the game in India’s favor when it seemed to be slipping away.

“Just a few months ago, during the T20 World Cup Final, Bumrah’s magic was on full display. At a crucial moment when we were losing our grip on the game, he came through by taking a vital wicket. This is not an isolated incident; Bumrah has repeatedly delivered in moments of crisis. It’s undeniable that he is one of the best bowlers in the world,” Sarfaraz remarked, according to a release from Jio Cinema.

Bumrah’s statistics speak volumes about his prowess. In 37 Test matches, he has taken 159 wickets with an impressive average of 20.69, boasting his best bowling figures of 6/27. On home soil, his record is even more outstanding; in nine Tests, he has claimed 33 wickets at an average of 16.36, with his best performance being 6/45.

The Chennai Test saw Bangladesh winning the toss and opting to bowl first. India’s top-order batsmen faltered early, leaving the team struggling at 34/3. However, a resilient partnership between opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (scoring 56 off 118 balls, including nine boundaries) and wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant (39 off 52 balls, with six boundaries) added 62 crucial runs for the fourth wicket, stabilizing the innings.

Despite this effort, India found themselves reeling at 144/6. It was then that Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja engineered a stunning revival. Jadeja remained unbeaten with a scintillating 86 off 117 balls, featuring ten boundaries and two sixes. Together, they forged an unbroken 195-run partnership, propelling India to finish the day at a commanding 339/6. Ashwin reached a remarkable century, remaining not out with 102 runs off 112 balls at an impressive strike rate of 91.07, peppered with ten fours and two sixes.

On the bowling front for Bangladesh, Hasan Mahmud stood out with figures of 4/58. He played a crucial role in dismantling India’s top order by dismissing key players like skipper Rohit Sharma (6), Shubman Gill (0), and Virat Kohli (6).

The teams lined up for this crucial encounter were:
– Bangladesh: Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (C), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das (Wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana.
– India: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (Wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj.