Jasprit Bumrah is Better Than Wasim Akram Says Former India Fast Bowler

MUMBAI: Jasprit Bumrah’s extraordinary skills and generational talent continue to earn him praise from all quarters of the globe, but former India fast bowler Varun Aaron has taken the admiration a step further by placing Bumrah on the same pedestal as Wasim Akram.

Bumrah was once again the difference-maker for his team against England, where his five-wicket haul not only helped his side gain a slender first innings lead but also helped him surpass Wasim Akram’s record for the most Test wickets in SENA nations.

Speaking on Cricinfo’s Match Day show, Varun Aaron made a bold statement that such achievements help Jasprit Bumrah rank alongside Wasim Akram.

“Calling him a genius would be an understatement. He has now passed Wasim Akram in the number of wickets in SENA countries. That says everything for me because Wasim Akram was the best fast bowler to walk the face of the earth and he could do everything with the ball. And Bumrah is pretty much the same, if not better,” Varun Aaron said when comparing the two.

“He has done it in far fewer innings than Wasim Akram,” he added, explaining his decision to rank the two on the same plane.

While his statement is likely to invite debate, Jasprit Bumrah has proven his generational credentials time and time again. Barring him, India’s bowling lineup appears ordinary, but with him in the side, India’s chances of winning a Test increase exponentially.

Wasim Akram, meanwhile, is widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time, with over 900 international wickets.

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The comparison may be premature for some, but if longevity, adaptability, and consistency remain part of Bumrah’s story, then he may well find himself mentioned in the same breath as Wasim Akram when the history books are written.