New Delhi, March 2 (NationPress) Former Indian batting coach Abhishek Nayar described Jasprit Bumrah as a ‘cheat code’ who consistently excels, after the fast bowling ace's crucial two-wicket over dismantled the West Indies' middle order, paving the way for India's five-wicket triumph at Eden Gardens.

Bumrah's dismissal of the formidable Shimron Hetmyer and Roston Chase in the 12th over proved to be a pivotal moment in a match where the West Indies had put forth one of the strongest batting line-ups of the tournament.

Despite recovering through contributions from Rovman Powell and Jason Holder to set a total of 195/4, India successfully chased it down, largely due to Sanju Samson’s outstanding unbeaten 97. However, Bumrah's over will be remembered for giving India a significant advantage in the competition.

"Jasprit Bumrah is a cheat code. You can rely on him whether it's with the new ball, during the middle overs, or at the death. He never fails to deliver. The wicket of Shimron Hetmyer was crucial for India. Hetmyer was looking exceptionally dangerous in these conditions. As a fast bowler, you typically think of yorkers or bouncers.

“But executing a length ball in that situation to claim a wicket is quite challenging. Then he bowled a spectacular slow ball to dismiss Roston Chase, which truly broke the back of the West Indies batting. Both batters were well set, and taking out two established players in a single over can demoralize the opposition. Bumrah was nothing short of brilliant," Nayar stated on Star Sports.

Former India opener Aakash Chopra echoed these praises, noting that Bumrah's figures of 2-36 did not fully encapsulate his impact in restraining the West Indies. "I consistently assert that Bumrah is a genius. He is an invaluable asset and a national treasure. His mastery over the innings is evident; while it may read 2 for 36, the roles he played were far more significant.

“Had he bowled the first and third overs, his economy rates would have appeared even better, but ultimately, that is not what matters. The West Indies had one of the deepest batting line-ups imaginable, yet they were four down and hadn’t crossed 200. Jasprit Bumrah is precisely the kind of bowler who prevents that from happening," he added.

Chopra further expressed that Tilak Varma batting at number five has been unexpectedly beneficial. "One crucial stroke has significantly altered the fortunes of two players because Sanju eventually gets to open and performs as he has previously. Tilak Varma was struggling at three, and now he is in a position where he must hit.

“He is now batting in a spot where he has succeeded in the past for the Mumbai Indians, so with Sanju at the top and Tilak in the middle, we have stumbled upon this advantageous combination. Initially, we intended to start the tournament with Plan A, which included Abhishek Sharma in excellent form, Ishan Kishan making a comeback, Tilak at three, and Surya at four.

“However, we discovered this opportunity as teams began bowling off-spin and Abhishek lost form. Ishan might feel a bit hard done by, but in a team sport, it’s not always about fairness, and this lineup is currently what’s best for the team," he concluded.