Irfan Pathan says Marco Jansen was ahead of Jasprit Bumrah in IND vs SA Test series

Former Indian Test opener Irfan Pathan noted that South Africa’s lead pacer, Marco Jansen, was ahead of India’s gun fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, in the two-match Test series. South Africa won the two-match series by 2-0 after registering a thumping 408-run win in the second game at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati on Wednesday.

Jansen was awarded Player of the Match in the second Test. The lanky all-rounder scored a fine knock of 93 runs in the first innings to help the Proteas post 489 runs on the board. Furthermore, he returned with impressive figures of 6-48 in the first innings. Moreover, he dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal in the second dig.

Overall, Jansen scalped 12 wickets in the series at a stunning average of 10.08, whereas Bumrah bagged eight wickets in two Test matches at an average of 18.50.

“Marco Jansen has gone ahead of Bumrah. If we talk of impact in batting, bowling, the way he was getting bounce and getting wickets. Our fast bowlers, who we think are the best, if we think Bumrah is the best, if someone is going ahead of him in wickets and impact, we are lagging,” Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube channel.

On the other hand, Pathan questioned Sarfaraz Khan’s exclusion from the Test team. Khan had scored a fine knock of 150 runs against New Zealand but didn’t get his chances on the Australian tour despite being part of the squad. Afterwards, he was dropped for the England tour and home Test series against the West Indies and South Africa.

“You will have to award players who are doing well in domestic cricket and batting well against spin. If someone like Sarfaraz is out, at least on pure cricketing reasons, it is beyond my understanding as to why such players are not in the team. You will have to bring them in. Otherwise, you will have clearly evident problems,” he added.

India will next take on South Africa in a three-match ODI series, starting Sunday.