Bumrah’s stunning six-wicket haul restricted England to 253, providing India with a crucial 143-run lead in Vizag.
Cook, who captained England in Tests from 2012 to 2017, credited Bumrah for changing the game’s course. “Bumrah has carried India through today and has single-handedly changed the course of this game,” remarked Cook in an interview with TNT Sports.
He highlighted the pivotal moment when Bumrah dismissed Ollie Pope with an in-swinging yorker, characterizing it as the turning point. “Bumrah jumped in and ripped the heart out of the England batting line-up,” Cook emphasized.
Having faced Bumrah several times during his international career, Cook acknowledged that the Indian pacer bowled exceptionally well. “I’ve faced Bumrah a number of times, but I don’t think I’ve ever faced him bowling as well as that,” he said.
Cook praised Bumrah’s unorthodox style, creating different angles that made him challenging for the batsmen. “His awkwardness, his different angles, he creates a different vision for the batter, and it makes him sometimes unplayable,” he added.
Analyzing Bumrah’s impact, Cook noted the dismissal of key players like Joe Root, Ollie Pope, Jonny Bairstow, and Ben Stokes. He credited Bumrah for taking the pitch out of the equation and described the 253-run total as well below par.
Reflecting on Bumrah’s performance against Root, Cook highlighted the pacer’s ability to sow seeds of doubt in the former England skipper’s mind. “A couple of those balls, the Bumrah spell against Joe Root, is actually very high-quality reverse swing bowling,” Cook explained.
With Bumrah dismissing Root for the eighth time in Test cricket, Cook emphasized the challenge Root faces in countering the Indian bowler’s variations.
“Now Root’s in that horrible position that the batsman has got the wood over you, so how are you going to counter it?” Cook questioned.
(With inputs from PTI)