WI vs IND | Jasprit Bumrah currently the most complete bowler in world cricket, says Virat Kohli

WI vs IND | Jasprit Bumrah currently the most complete bowler in world cricket, says Virat Kohli

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Indian skipper Virat Kohli has lauded pacer Jasprit Bumrah's versatility and skill set, hailing him as the most complete bowler in world cricket. Kohli also heaped praise on newcomer and Man of the Match Hanuma Vihari, whose tally of 164 runs in the match helped set up a 257-run win for his team.

Prior to the start of the first Test, there were questions surrounding the fragile nature of the Indian batting order, especially with the opening slot and the middle-order not in the greatest of forms. Coming up against a Windies team which has been formidable at home for the past 18 months, the series was seen as a banana peel with not much to gain but everything to lose, especially with it marking the start of the Test championship.Ā 

But two Tests and 10 days later, the Indian team, led by Virat Kohli, has put all doubts to bed and have well and truly proved the world why they're the number one ranked team in Tests. The victory in Jamaica also meant that Kohli became India's most successful Test captain of all time, but the skipper was quick to play it down and labelled the success as a collective team effort, while also stating that the win was made possible by the bowlers.Ā 

"Captaincy is just a 'C' in front of your name honestly. It's the collective effort that matters. It's a by-product of this quality team that we have here, to be honest," Kohli said in the post-match presentation, reported Cricbuzz.

"If we didn't have the bowlers that we have, I don't think the results would have been possible," he added.

It is, of course, unsurprising to see why Kohli feels that the bowling has been the main reason behind the success, as the pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, and Mohammad Shami have run riot on many an opposition over the course of the past 18 months. Bumrah, in particular, almost single-handedly ensured victory for the visitors with his hostile spells, as the 25-year-old ended the series with 13 wickets atĀ nine-a-piece.

The skipper singled out India's talisman and hailed him as the most complete bowler in the world, saying that he felt for the batsmen out in the middle, who had to endure unplayable spells of bowling from the quick from Ahmedabad.

"I haven't seen many more lethal spells than that two spells in the last couple of Tests. As a batsman standing in slips, you can feel for the batsmen who's playing him," Kohli said of Bumrah.

"He confuses them with angles, with swing, he will set up for the out-swinger and then bowl the in-swinger. It's coming at pace and then he can hit you with bouncers as well. I think he's the most complete bowler in world cricket now," he added.

Apart from Bumrah, there was another youngster who was instrumental in the series win - Hanuma Vihari. The right-hander from Andhra Pradesh dug deep in both Tests, rescuing India from the rut they found themselves in, batting with the tail and helping the team post a competitive score. Kohli insisted that the 25-year-old, who was named Man of the Match, was the find of the series for India, and lauded his technique and temperament.

"I think the find of the series was Hanuma Vihari. The way he's batted under pressure especially, and on a much more challenging wicket here in Jamaica than in Antigua. I think his skill sets were outstanding. I think his temperament and technique were top-notch and he countered everything the opposition threw at him. Very, very pleased with the way he has come about.

"He's always willing to improve and is accepting of his mistakes and corrects them immediately, and he's getting the results pretty quickly. He plays with a lot of heart, always is up to do anything for the team, and that's why he invariably ends up playing crucial innings for us. It's a very young career so far, but he's shown why he's been backed and selected in this team."

India's next challenge will be a three-match T20I series against the Proteas at home starting September 15th.

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