India Would Have Lost BGT 5-0 Without Bumrah: Harbhajan Singh

New Delhi 6 Jan’2025, : Former cricketer Harbhajan Singh believes that without the presence of star bowler Jasprit Bumrah, India would have suffered a 5-0 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) against Australia, instead of the 3-1 loss they endured.

Over the course of 45 intense days of cricket, Bumrah emerged as one of the standout performers, leading India’s fight against the World Test Championship (WTC) holders. His exceptional bowling skills consistently troubled the Australian batsmen throughout the series.

Bumrah, who played a pivotal role in India’s 295-run victory in the series opener in Perth, was by far the standout bowler in the series. His remarkable performance saw him end the BGT as the leading wicket-taker. Bumrah’s efforts were recognized when he was named the Player of the Series, despite India’s loss in the overall contest.

Notably, Australian cricketer Travis Head also praised Bumrah’s remarkable individual performance, describing it as the best he had seen in his career.

Harbhajan Singh, while speaking on his YouTube channel, acknowledged Bumrah’s contributions, calling him a “national treasure.” He emphasized that without Bumrah’s match-winning performances, India would have likely faced a much heavier defeat.

“If Jasprit Bumrah wasn’t part of this tour, the series would have ended 5-0. Jassi saved India in Perth and played a crucial role in the other matches as well. Without him, India would have lost by either 5-0 or 4-0,” Harbhajan said.

Bumrah ended the five-match BGT with an impressive tally of 32 wickets, making him India’s highest wicket-taker in a Test series on Australian soil. His exceptional performance came at an average of 12.64, including three five-wicket hauls, with a best of 6/76. In doing so, he surpassed Bishan Singh Bedi’s record of 31 wickets set during the 1977-78 tour of Australia.