"You need to make gourmet biryani in an era of 2-minute noodles" - Aakash Chopra lauds Jasprit Bumrah's spell in IND vs SA 2025 1st Test

Former India player Aakash Chopra has lauded Jasprit Bumrah for delivering a potent spell on Day 1 of the first Test against South Africa. He noted that the unconventional seamer set the batters up before dismissing them.

Bumrah registered figures of 5/27 in 14 overs as India bowled South Africa out for 159 in their first innings in Kolkata on Friday, November 14. The hosts ended the day at 37/1 in their first innings, with KL Rahul (13*) and Washington Sundar (6*) being the unbeaten batters.

During a discussion on Star Sports, Chopra was asked about Bumrah bowling an extended first spell and picking up a wicket apiece only in his sixth and seventh overs.

"Honestly speaking, in Test cricket, in any case, you don't get wickets as soon as you roll your arm over. You need to bowl long spells, and you were bowling at the right spots. You constantly cook a wicket, and that's why Test cricket is so interesting. You need to make gourmet biryani in an era of two-minute noodles," he responded.

The former India opener added that Bumrah's unpredictability makes him a unique bowler.

"Anil Kumble said a very good thing. You hear many times that a bowler shouldn't be predictable in T20Is and ODIs. In Test cricket, it's said that you need to be predictable. Bumrah is not that. That's why he is different from everyone. He bowls full and short with the new and old balls, and changes the angles. He is not predictable at all. There is indeed no one like Jassi," Chopra elaborated.

Jasprit Bumrah didn't pick up a wicket in his first five overs before castling Ryan Rickelton (23) with the third ball of his sixth over. He then had Aiden Markram (31) caught by Rishabh Pant with the first ball of his next over to dismiss both openers after they had stitched together a 57-run partnership.

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"Kapil Dev took 227 innings to reach 23 five-wicket hauls" - Aakash Chopra on Jasprit Bumrah picking up his 16th five-wicket haul in just 96 innings

Jasprit Bumrah has picked up 231 wickets at an average of 19.52 in 51 Tests. [P/C: Getty]

On Star Sports, Aakash Chopra was also asked about Jasprit Bumrah having the best average among bowlers with more than 200 Test wickets.

"Indian pacers don't pick up so many wickets. Kapil Dev took 227 innings to reach 23 five-wicket hauls. Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma, one played 90 Tests and the other played 100, have 11 five-wicket hauls apiece. He (Bumrah) has reached 16 five-wicket hauls in 96 innings only. He hasn't bowled in 100 innings and he has reached the second spot," he replied.

The cricketer-turned-commentator highlighted that Bumrah has taken so many five-wicket hauls despite the presence of two potent spinners, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, in the side on spin-friendly Indian pitches.

"The speed with which he is taking five-wicket hauls on Indian pitches, it seems like it's a misnomer that fast bowlers have difficulties in India. Let's also not forget that he used to have Ashwin and Jadeja along with him. They used to take the bulk of the wickets. We have seen Ashwin picking up wickets with the new ball. Considering that, Jasprit Bumrah doing this job is absolutely incredible," Chopra observed.

To conclude, Aakash Chopra highlighted that longevity of the career is one of the yardsticks for greatness. He noted that it's the only box Jasprit Bumrah needs to tick, apart from which, he is already the GOAT (greatest of all time).

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Edited by Kartik Iyer