WTC Final – Jasprit Bumrah’s rise has been rapid but Mohammed Shami is India’s No.1 bowler – Ajit Agarkar

Former Indian fast bowler Ajit Agarkar has stated that Jasprit Bumrah’s rise has been rapid in Test cricket but Mohammed Shami’s is India’s number one bowler in the recent past.

Shami was ruled out of the Australia tour after a broken wrist and didn’t play in the home series against England.

Shami is well known for his upright seam position and he is mostly right on the money with his bowling. The right-arm fast bowler can get the ball to move of the surface and he is going to hold the key in the World Test Championship final against New Zealand.

Shami has been a consistent performer for India in the last few years and he has delivered the goods in all the conditions. The fast bowler from Bengal has scalped 180 wickets in 50 Test matches at an average of 27.59 as he has bowled at the top of his game.

Agarkar feels Shami will be India’s highest wicket-taker in the WTC final against New Zealand and the conditions don’t matter to him as he is deadly accurate with his line and length and he has also got the pace under his belt.

“I think Mohammad Shami will be the highest wicket-taker. I think Bumrah’s rise has been rapid, but to me, Mohammad Shami has been India’s number one bowler, certainly in Test cricket and the conditions don’t matter to him,” Ajit Agarkar said on Star Sports show Cricket Connected.

On the other hand, Agarkar feels New Zealand will start as favorites in the WTC final as they will be better prepared after playing two Test matches against England. Agarkar picked Virat Kohli to be the highest run-getter in the match.

“It’s a difficult one to pick who is going to win it. I think New Zealand might just start favourites in this one. For the leading run-getter, I will go with Virat Kohli. I think he showed us what he could do in England the second time he toured even under difficult conditions and he’d want to be the man to stand up for India,” Agarkar added.

The WTC final will take place at Ageas Bowl, Southampton from June 18.