Ind vs Eng 5th Test: Sachin Tendulkar backs Jasprit Bumrah amid online trolls for his presence in three Tests

Sachin Tendulkar (Pic: File Pic)

Legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar feels that Team India winning the two Test matches against England in Jasprit Bumrah's absence was just a coincidence and hailed the pacer by saying that his quality remains exceptional and unbelievable.

India's lead pacer featured in just three out of the five-match Test series against England. Earlier, he was advised by professionals not to play consecutive Test matches due to his workload management.

"Bumrah started off really well, got five wickets in the (first innings of the) first Test. He did not play the second Test, but (played in) the third and the fourth. Again, in (one of) those two Tests, he got (a) five wickets (haul)," Tendulkar said on 'Reddit'.

Further speaking, Tendulkar said that he would rank Jasprit Bumrah 'right at the top' and what he has done for the team so far is unbelievable.

"Of three Test that he played, he picked up five wickets twice. I know that people are discussing a number of things, that we won those Tests in which he did not play. To me, that is just a coincidence," said the former cricketer.

"The quality of Bumrah is exceptional. What he has been able to do is just unbelievable so far. He has been a consistent performer without any doubt (and) I would put him right at the top with anyone else," he added.

In Bumrah's absence, pacer Mohammed Siraj rose to the occasion. The Hyderabad-born pacer also emerged as one of India's heroes to remember from the England Test series, in which the visitors featured without the likes of stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

Despite being a pacer, Siraj made his appearances in all five Test matches and bagged 23 wickets by bowling 185.3 overs.

However, Bumrah remains miles ahead in absolute numbers with 219 wickets in 48 Tests as compared to 123 in 41 matches by Siraj.

The five-match Test series between Team India and England ended in a 2-2 draw. During the series, several Team India players delivered crucial performances on different occasions.

It was a debut series for Shubman Gill as a captain, and the 25-year-old ended it on a high as he scored 754 runs in the five Test matches.

(With PTI Inputs)