Jasprit Bumrah's performance reminiscent of Akram and Younis, says Basit Ali

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali praised Jasprit Bumrah for his outstanding performance in the first Test between India and New Zealand held in Bengaluru.

Despite India's defeat, Bumrah shone brightly, taking three wickets and delivering a brilliant eight-over spell on the fifth day of the match.

Basit Ali drew comparisons between Bumrah and legendary Pakistani fast bowlers Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, highlighting the impact of Bumrah's bowling. He noted, however, that Bumrah lacked support from his fellow fast bowler, Mohammed Siraj, who struggled to maintain pressure on the New Zealand batsmen.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Basit said, "The eight-over spell that Bumrah bowled reminded me of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. But India needs to take into consideration that they will need two pace bowlers alongside him when they go to Australia. At the moment, he does not have a good pace bowling partner. (Mohammed) Shami getting fit before the Australia tour will be crucial for India."

Although Siraj is generally regarded as India's second-best fast bowler after Bumrah, he has not been in great form lately. His recent performance in Bengaluru was disappointing, finishing with figures of 2-84 and 0-16 across both innings. With India preparing for a Test series in Australia next month, the pressure is on Siraj to perform well.

New Zealand emerged victorious in the first Test, winning by eight wickets and taking a 1-0 lead in the series. This marked New Zealand's first Test win in India in 36 years. The next two matches will take place in Pune and Mumbai, where India will be looking to bounce back under significant pressure, while New Zealand aims for a historic series victory against the strong Indian side.