Mark Wood, the England pacer, has praised Jasprit Bumrah as the top bowler in the world, recognising his game-changing skills across formats. Speaking during the first Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Headingley, Wood warned that England’s batters would face a tough challenge against Bumrah’s precision and deceptive pace.
“He’s an exceptional bowler across all formats and a serious threat. I can genuinely say that he’s tough to read and face. He bowls faster than he appears. At this moment, he’s the best bowler in the world, and he has the ability to turn a match around in an instant,” Wood told Sky Sports.
After undergoing knee surgery in March, the 35-year-old pacer was anticipated to miss the entire five-Test series. However, he shared on BBC’s Test Match Special that he has started bowling again in the nets and is targeting a return for the final Test.
Meanwhile, Bumrah once again spearheaded India’s bowling attack with his trademark intensity. On day 2 at Headingley, he claimed 3 for 48 off 13 overs, being the sole wicket-taker for India. Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ravindra Jadeja, and Shardul Thakur, were unable to take any wickets in 36 overs. England finished the day at 209 for 3, still behind by 262 runs.
Bumrah’s efforts were hampered by some sloppy fielding. Ben Duckett, on 15, got a second chance after being dropped and then managed to survive a DRS review. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who made a century on day one, also missed a chance to dismiss Ollie Pope on 60, while Harry Brook was dismissed off a no-ball.
Bumrah was rewarded for his persistence. His performance follows careful workload management. Bumrah is likely to play three Tests in this series.
His pace, control, and distinctive action continue to challenge the world’s best batters.