What England players said to Bumrah cannot be revealed in public – Shardul Thakur

The fifth Test between England and India was called off after the visitors were not able to field the playing XI due to the emergence of COVID-19 cases in the Indian camp. There were few heated moments between the players, especially in the Lord’s Test between James Anderson and Jasprit Bumrah. India won the Test at Lord’s to go 1-0 up in the series but a lot happened between the Indian pacer and England’s legendary fast bowler.

Shardul Thakur has opened up on the entire episode. “We were trying to attack Anderson. Something had happened during the Lord’s Test and it was carried to The Oval. I was later told that Anderson said something to Bumrah which he shouldn’t have, I was told they (England team) abused Bumrah. Those words cannot be said in public, so everyone got charged up after this,” Shardul said in a conversation with Indian Express.

Anderson was upset with the bouncers that Bumrah bowled at him in the Lord’s Test. Shardul Thakur defended the Indian bowler.

“When we go overseas, our tailenders also face bouncers. In Australia, Natrajan was bowled bouncers by Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins despite them knowing that this guy hasn’t batted much even in First-Class cricket. So now when our opponents’ tailender come to bat then why can’t we bowl bouncers at him? Why shouldn’t we bowl bodyline? We are not playing to please anyone. We are playing there to win,” said the seamer.